Second Language Acquisition: A Primer

Second Language Acquisition: A Primer presents a clear exposition of contemporary thinking and research on second language acquisition specifically for the many students taking the course who are studying to become language teachers or who are newcomers to the field. Using nontechnical language, Joan Kelly Hall introduces readers to current understandings about how languages are learned and how such understandings inform language teaching. The book provides an overview of SLA research methods and of findings from a range of geographic and language contexts within four dimensions of social activity: the individual, the classroom, informal virtual learning spaces, and professional contexts found in the workplace and community. Conceived by a leading scholar who understands the needs of students with little or no background in SLA, and with pertinent details on the implications of concepts and research for teaching, this textbook is ideal for MA and undergraduate students taking the introductory SLA course in TESOL and Second/Foreign Language Education programs.