English Foreign Language Learners and Native-Like Competence: Possible Explanations for Failure

Learners vary hugely in the ultimate level of proficiency they achieve, with most of them failing to reach native target-language competence. Since the process of L2 acquisition is very complex, it is not my intention to simplify it. Thus, I will only give a brief account of possible explanations for the failure of learners to achieve native-like competence in a second language. To account for this phenomenon, I will consider three different perspectives in L2 acquisition: psychological linguistic issues, sociolinguistic issues and discourse issues. Thus, I will analyze several SLA theories, claims and / or hypothesis. I must admit that it is really challenging to gather information from these complex areas since all three aspects are interrelated in a number of ways. Also, some of those relations are more controversial than others. Finally, I will try to reach to a conclusion.