The Effects of Language Interference in Learning English Syntax for Spanish Native Speakers: A Case Study on a Mexican Context

Abstract

Language interference is a relevant topic for second language acquisition because most language learners face this phenomenon when learning a new language. This study followed a social constructivist philosophy, focusing on indictive and qualitative methods. This case study was conducted in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. In this case study, I explored the experiences of two young-adults language learners from the center of Guanajuato, Mexico. These participants have been taking formal English lessons for more than twelve years. However, these learners are still not able to have fluent conversations in English. The instruments used for this research were questionnaires, interviews, and recorded conversations. After conducting a thematic analysis, the result indicates that the main issue these participants are facing is the use of translation as a strategy and the concern the participants have of committing mistakes.