Understanding Second Language Acquisition (Oxford Applied Linguistics)

"Understanding Second Language Acquisition" is an ideal companion for students taking an initial course in applied linguistics, or for teachers who want to improve their understanding of how learners learn a second language. This book seeks to help teachers make their theory of language learning explicit by examining language-learner language and the processes that produce it. Despite being written as long ago as the mid-eighties, it is still reasonably up-to-date. It covers all the major areas of SLA that one would expect; the role of the first language, variability in interlanguage, individual differences, input, interaction, learner strategies, the Universal Hypothesis, and the role of formal instruction. I enjoyed this book partly because it was written simply, descriptively and scientifically, and partly because the author was my professor when I was a grad student. That will be of no consequence to you, of course, but his thoroughness and clear style is something that I believe all of us can benefit from.

Although the book contains a lot of valuable data for trainee teachers, the author's opinions are not stated.