UNEQUAL SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: A CASE STUDY OF PAKISTANI STUDENTS

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between socio-economic status and second language acquisition (SLA) in Pakistani students and focuses on a case study of the University of Gujrat. To learning English, the study examines factors like family background, native language use at home, and access to learning resources that affect students’ experiences. These factors have a significant effect on the exposure of students to the second language and acquisition of the language in general. The methodology followed was quantitative and data gathered using a questionnaire. The sample was a sample of 73 undergraduate students in various departments of the University of Gujrat. The methods, in SPSS, which was used in the analysis of the data collected, were frequencies and percentages. In the family life, most students have been introduced to English both in the academic and personal setting. This exposure helps to build up their confidence enormously and enhances their language competence. Furthermore, the findings show that socioeconomic status and native language of the students play an important role in the acquisition of English as a second language. Not only is there formal education related to the process of second language acquisition, but also social and home environment, as that study points out. The current research is founded on a chosen sample of the population surveyed and therefore might lack a comprehensive range of the Pakistani students. In general, the research highlights the significance of contextual and socioeconomic variables in the determination of the English language learning outcomes among students.