Final answer:
Assessing a learner's ability to speak and understand a new language with minimal support involves consideration of age, exposure, and motivation. Children rapidly acquire language, but adults may benefit from bilingual education and cultural immersion. A learner's proficiency is highly individual and dependent on several factors.Therefore,it is No.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question centers on whether a learner can speak and understand a new language with little to no support. To assess this, we can look at various factors including the learner's age, exposure to the language, and personal motivation.
It has been well-documented that the ability to learn language is an innate human capability, with young children in particular able to rapidly acquire their first language through passive exposure, a testament to the biologically predetermined nature of language acquisition proposed by Noam Chomsky.
In terms of learning a second language, the process can compare to learning to ride a bicycle, requiring the coordination of multiple tasks simultaneously. A significant finding by researchers at Johns Hopkins University supports the effectiveness of bilingual education, highlighting that learners benefit from instruction in both their native tongue and the new language. Moreover, societal and cultural immersion often bolsters language learning success, indicating that the richness of the language environment plays a crucial role.
When considering the capacity to understand and use basic language like "yes" and "no", or the ability to employ signs and gestures, it's clear that these are the stepping stones towards full-fledged communication in a new language.
However, the extent to which a learner can operate with minimal support is highly individual. It often depends on factors such as the critical period of language acquisition and the richness of the language-learning environment.
Therefore,it is No.