| Abstract | 第1-8页 |
| 摘要 | 第8-9页 |
| List of abbreviations | 第9-10页 |
| 1. Introduction | 第10-11页 |
| 2. Literature review | 第11-23页 |
| ·The Critical Period Hypothesis | 第12页 |
| ·Supports for Critical Period Hypothesis | 第12-14页 |
| ·Criticism for the Critical Period Hypothesis | 第14-17页 |
| ·The Sensitive Period Hypothesis | 第17-19页 |
| ·The foreign language learning and teaching at elementary schools in history and today | 第19-21页 |
| ·Clarifying some key terms | 第21-23页 |
| ·Second language and foreign language | 第21-22页 |
| ·Learning and Acquisition | 第22-23页 |
| ·Summary | 第23页 |
| 3. Research design | 第23-28页 |
| ·Research questions | 第23-24页 |
| ·Theoretical framework | 第24-28页 |
| ·The Critical Period Hypothesis | 第24页 |
| ·The effects of age on learners' second language achievements | 第24-25页 |
| ·The theory of explanation for the effects of age on foreign language learning in cognitive ability | 第25-28页 |
| ·Research hypothesis | 第28页 |
| 4. Method | 第28-32页 |
| ·Subjects | 第28-29页 |
| ·Procedure | 第29-31页 |
| ·Data Analysis | 第30-31页 |
| ·Junior 3 Subjects | 第30页 |
| ·Senior 3 Subjects | 第30-31页 |
| ·Findings | 第31-32页 |
| 5. Results and discussion | 第32-42页 |
| ·Is there an 'optimum age 'for English language learning in formal instruction?Does the Critical Period Hypothesis have strong explanatory power to the foreign language learners in the language environment of formal instruction? | 第32-33页 |
| ·What is the difference of the English achievements between the students who started learning English at secondary school and those who started learning English at secondary school when they are in Junior Three or Senior Three in their high school | 第33-35页 |
| ·Pedagogical implications | 第35-41页 |
| ·Some problems in foreign language learning and teaching in formal settings in China | 第35-38页 |
| ·Bias of some educational and social administrators in the theory and practice of foreign language learning and teaching | 第38-40页 |
| ·Misunderstandings of assessment in the foreign language learning and teaching | 第40-41页 |
| ·Suggested solutions | 第41页 |
| ·Limitations of the investigation and suggestions of further research | 第41-42页 |
| 6. Conclusion | 第42-45页 |
| Bibliography | 第45-49页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第49页 |
