Cultural Exposure Affects Second Language Learning Socio-cultural factors have an important effect on second language learning. In particular, cultural exposure plays a significant role in the language learning process. Cultural ignorance and prejudice can cause difficulties for language learners, and the degree of exposure also determines how quickly a second language learner can acquire a new language. In this mini research essay, I will first examine how people from China and the Middle East will be stereotyped. Next, I will discuss why people who have a similar cultural background to native speakers learn a new language better. Furthermore, I will show the different learning strategies used by people and finally, it will be discussed how these factors influence second language learning. Chinese and Middle Eastern are always stereotyped by native English speakers. Due to the influence of the media and academic performance, "contemporary public perceptions of Chinese and other Asian students are based on reports of these students' high test scores and academic success", and native speakers assume that all people from China are “high achievers” who can quickly adapt to a new environment and speak English well (Derderian-Aghajanian&wang, 2012, p.172). However, according to researchers, many Chinese immigrants have no English language skills and have varying levels of education (Derderian-Aghajanian&wang, 2012). For these people, the stereotype is unfair, because they will not have enough support from the public2, which could have a negative impact on their language learning. Middle Eastern students, on the other hand, are stereotyped as terrorists (Derderian-Aghajanian&wang, 201...... middle of paper ......anguage, Society and Culture Journal, 1(31), 81-89. Retrieved March 4, 2014, from http://www.aaref.com.au/en/publications/journal/journal-articles/issue-31-2010/Derderian-Aghajanian, A., & Wang, C. C. (2012). culture influences English language learner (ELL) achievement, with Chinese and Middle Eastern immigrant students International Journal of Business & Social Science, 3(5), 172-180 Retrieved March 4, 2014, from http://ijbssnet com/. journal/index/1091Schumann, J.H. (1976). Social distance as a factor in second language acquisition, 26(1), 135-143. Retrieved March 4, 2014, from the Wiley Online Library database acculturation model for second language acquisition. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 7(5), 379-392 Retrieved April 1, 2014, from the Taylor&Francis Online database..