The Study of Second Language Acquisition (Second Edition)

Description

The extent to which SLA research can claim to constitute a discipline in its own right depends on whether it is possible to identify a defined field of enquiry and a body of knowledge relating to it. The main aim of this book, therefore, is to develop a framework for describing the field as it currently exists and to use this framework to provide an extensive account of what is currently known about L2 acquisition and L2 learners. It is intended to tackle this 'descriptively'—to avoid taking up any particular position regarding what constitutes the most legitimate approach to SLA research. The account offered, therefore, aims to be balanced and objective, as far as this is possible. Inevitably, though, the personal views of the author will colour the picture provided. Also, although the emphasis will be on 'describing' what has been discovered, attention will also be given to the evaluation of the methodologies that have been used to conduct research, of the significance of the information that has been unearthed, and of the theories that have been developed to ex-plain the findings. Again, though, as far as possible, these evaluations will strive for objectivity by reflecting a range of opinion.

About the author

Rod Ellis is Professor in the Department of Applied Language Studies and Linguistics at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He has worked in Zambia, the UK, Japan, and the US for extended periods. He has published a number of books on second language acquisition and teacher education. He has also published EFL/ESL textbooks.