In 1986 V. J. Cook wrote a book called “Experimental Approaches to Second Language Learning” in which he explains that older children are better than younger children at second language which supports the second statement of Krashen written above. He also claims that adults are better than children at learning a second language which this also accords with one of the statements of Krashen´s book. Cook goes on explaining another of his philosophy that immigrants who start learning a second language younger end up better speakers than those who start older. This contradicts a bit of his two previous statements.
David Singleton explains the one interpretation of the evidence which does not appear to run into contradictory data is that in naturalistic situations those whose exposure to a second language begins in childhood in general eventually surpass those whose exposure begins in adulthood, even though the latter usually show some initial advantage over the former.
So at the end of the day age is just a factor and it all sums up in different categories
a. In a cognitive way the level of the mind may be different
b. In a social way the types of social role and relationship may differ
c. In a physical way hearing or speaking or brain storage may differ
d. In an input way the language encountered may be different
All this factors mentioned above are what is really taken into consideration when acquiring a second language. It can’t really be told if age does matter or not.
Mind Explorer/ October, 2013 9