Customer Reviews

Developing Professional-Level Language Proficiency

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While this volume contains a wealth of information on various processes of second language acquisition, the content is definitely geared toward an academic audience. As a layperson interested in learning foreign languages, I found the content to be quite dry and overanalyzed for a general audience. I would definitely recommend readers (besides foreign language professors) at least skip the first two chapters, which are almost painfully verbose.

For people interested in learning foreign languages, I would recommend Steve Kaufmann's "The Way of the Linguist," which is a much easier and more interesting read. For those interested in the details/technical aspects of second language learning, Betty Lou Leaver's "Achieving Native-Like Second Language Proficiency" is a much more concise and manageable text.

Although this book provides several detailed examples of advanced second language programs, I believe the level of detail is suitable for language professors rather than general readers.