Second Language Learning and Language Teaching  (English, Paperback, Cook Vivian)

The fourth edition of this classic textbook has been revised to reflect recent developments in language teaching and learning yet retains the basic structure and approach so popular with its readers.

Teaching and learning content has been updated, particularly taking into account the rise of task-based learning, Conversational Analysis and social models of second language acquisition, changes in national syllabuses and examinations and the increasing controversy over the role of the native speaker target. Each chapter has been revised to stand alone, enabling the text to be taught and studied out of sequence if preferred. A set of focusing questions has also been added to each chapter and further reading sections have been updated. In addition, icons appear throughout the text signaling where extra information – summaries, data, lecture notes, test batteries and more – can be found on the author’s accompanying website.

Second Language Learning and Language Teaching remains the essential textbook for all student teachers of modern languages and TESOL as well as applied linguistics.

•   The Scope of this book
•   Common Assumptions of language teaching
•   What is second language acquisition research?
•   What a teacher can expect from SLA research
•   Some background ideas of SLA research
•   Discussion topics
•   Glosses on language teaching methods
•   Learning and teaching different types of grammar

•   Structure words, morphemes and sequences of acquisition
•   The processability model
•   Principles and parameters grammar
•   L2 learning of grammar and L2 teaching
•   The role of explicit grammar in language teaching
•   Discussion topics
•   Some grammatical terms

Learning and teaching vocabulary

•   Word frequency
•   Knowledge of words
•   One word-store or two in the L2 user’s mind?
•   Types of meaning
•   Strategies for understanding and learning vocabulary
•   Vocabulary and teaching
•   Discussion topics
•   Answers

Acquiring and teaching pronunciation

•   Phonemes and second language acquisition
•   Learning syllable structure
•   General ides about phonology learning
•   Choosing a model for teaching pronunciation
•   Learning and teaching pronunciation
•   Discussion topics

Acquiring and teaching a new writing system

•   Writing systems
•   Spelling
•   Punctuation
•   The writing system and language teaching
•   Discussion topics
•   Answers

Strategies for communicating and learning

•   Communication strategies
•   Learning strategies: how do learners vary their approaches to L2 learning?
•   Discussion topics
•   Answers

Listening and reading processes

•   Meaning and reading
•   Listening process
•   Discussion topics

Individual difference in L2 users and L2 learners

•   Motivation for L2 learning
•   Attitudes
•   Aptitude: are some people better at learning a second language than others?
•   Age: are young L2 learners better than old learners?
•   Are other personality traits important to L2 learning?
•   Discussion topics

Classroom interaction and Conversation Analysis

• Language and interaction inside the classroom
• Language input and language learning
• Describing conversation
• Discussion topics

The L2 user and the native speaker

•   The L2 user versus the native speaker in language teaching
•   Codeswitching by second language users
•   Using the first language in the classroom
•   Are native speakers better language teachers?
•   International languages: English as lingua franca (ELF)
•   Discussion topics

The goals of language teaching

•   The different roles of second languages in people’s lives
•   Language and groups of speakers
•   The goals of language teaching
•   Discussion topics

General models of L2 learning

•   Universal Grammar
•   Processing models
•   The socio-educational model
•   The interaction approach
•   Sociocultural SLA theory
•   Multi-competence – the L2 user approach
•   General Issues
•   Discussion topics

Second language learning and language teaching styles

•   The academic style
•   The audio-lingual style
•   The communicative style
•   The task-based learning style
•   The mainstream EFL style
•   Other styles
•   Conclusion
•   Discussion topics.