Hollywood: smarter than you think?
MaybeMisrepresentations of complex issues such as adult second language (L2) acquisition are rife in the news media; one does not expect Hollywood to differ. Yet the 2004 film The Terminal (2004) gets it right. Stranded in a NY airport for a year, Tom Hanks’ character accurately depicts the early stages of acquisition and demonstrates how ample naturalistic exposure leads to advanced L2 proficiency. Hollywood also manages cultural nuances; initial communication fails because the authorities assume Hanks is attempting to immigrate when his purpose is one of pilgrimage. Either Hollywood is smarter than the news media or Hollywood holds its audience in higher regard than the media holds its readers/viewers. Maybe. Analysis of the film points to decisions made to drive a plot that would have fizzled had the film makers not subscribed to Krashen’s (1985) or Schwartz’s (1993) ideas on adults’ ability to use comprehensible input and primary linguistic data in ways similar to young children. |
