Problems in Second Language Acquisition (Second Language Acquisition Research Series) [Paperback]

Michael H. Long (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0805860843 | ISBN-13: 978-0805860849 | Publication Date: June 30, 2006 | Edition: 1

Second language acquisition has an identity problem. It is a young field struggling to emerge from the parent fields of education and applied linguistics. In his new book, Problems in Second Language Acquisition, Mike Long proposes a way to help second language acquisition develop a systematic and coherent focus using the philosophy of science as the lens.

The volume is neatly organized into three parts--theory, research, and practice. This structure allows a focus on areas of SLA of interest to many in the field. These include theory proliferation and comparative theory evaluation; the Critical Period Hypothesis and negative feedback; and the practice of “synthetic” language teaching.

The controversial volume will be of interest to researchers, educators, and graduate students in second language acquisition, applied linguistics, TESOL, and linguistics programs. It may be recommended as additional reading for an introductory SLA course in order to stimulate class discussions.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This book brings together six chapters on theory development in SLA; detailed accounts of research in two areas where SLA research findings are accumulating; and implications of these and other SLA findings for practice. The theory, research, practice section and chapter sequencing gives the book shape, as does the recurring theme of theory development, and in particular Laudan’s notion of science as a problem-solving activity, from which the book takes its title.”

—Peter Robinson
Aoyama Gakuin University

“Chapter 3 is a detailed review of the sensitive period controversy in SLA and a convincing defense of that notion. This chapter contains some unpublished research and is, therefore, valuable for senior scholars as well as new ones to the field. Chapter 4 is a review of the literature on recasts in second language pedagogy and a powerful argument for their use.”

—John Schumann
University of California at Los Angeles

About the Author

Mike Longis Professor of SLA, and Director of the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Maryland, College Park. He serves on the Editorial Boards of Studies in Second Language Acquisition, and is co-editor of the Cambridge Applied Linguistics Series. His current research includes work on theory change in SLA, negative feedback, sensitive periods, needs analysis, Task-Based Language Teaching, and a longitudinal study of stabilization /fossilization in the interlanguage of a Japanese immigrant to Hawai’i. His recent publications include theHandbook of SLA, co-edited with Catherine Doughty (Blackwell, 2003), andSecond Language Needs Analysis(Cambridge, 2005).

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (June 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805860843
• ISBN-13: 978-0805860849
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,653,445 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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