Introduction to Instructed Second Language Acquisition

by Shawn Loewen

Overview

Now in its third edition, Introduction to Instructed Second Language Acquisition continues to present a structured, comprehensive introduction to ISLA's theoretical, empirical, and pedagogical themes, as well as a range of key issues in research and practice.

Designed for ease of teaching, the text includes separate sections for empirical evidence and pedagogical implications in order to demonstrate how research findings can successfully be implemented in the classroom. Activities and discussion questions, as well as points for reflection, facilitate discursive learning and critical thinking. This third edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect the latest developments in the field, along with new chapters on psychological, cognitive, and social individual differences, respectively.

This is an essential core text for courses on ISLA, and recommended reading for classes in Language Acquisition more broadly.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781040313374
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/14/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	250

About the Author

Shawn Loewen is Professor in Second Language Studies, TESOL, and Applied Linguistics at Michigan State University. His publications include two co-authored books, Key Concepts in Second Language Acquisition (with Reinders, 2009), and An A-Z of Applied Linguistics Research Methods (with Plonsky, 2016). He has also published numerous articles in journals such as Studies in Second Language Acquisition, Language Learning, ELT Journal, and Language Teaching Research. He is the associate editor of The Modern Language Journal.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 2 The nature of second language knowledge

Chapter 3 Interaction in the second language classroom

Chapter 4 Focus on form

Chapter 5 Sociocultural theory in the second language classroom

Chapter 6 The acquisition of grammar

Chapter 7 The acquisition of vocabulary

Chapter 8 The acquisition of pronunciation

Chapter 9 The acquisition of pragmatics

Chapter 10 Psychological individual differences and instructed second language acquisition

Chapter 11 Cognitive individual differences and instructed second language acquisition

Chapter 12 Social individual differences and instructed second language acquisition

Chapter 13 The research-pedagogy link

References

Index

Editorial Reviews

'Instructed SLA is an important area for both the study of second language acquisition and language pedagogy. Shawn Loewen does a first rate job in surveying the key issues and research to date. He also writes in a very accessible way, which will make his book very attractive to both undergraduate and graduate students.'

Rod Ellis, Curtin University, Australia

'This second edition not only provides an updated and comprehensive discussion of theoretical and empirical issues in ISLA but a much needed extension into the crucial relationship between these issues and practice together with end-of-chapters sections for further discussion. Both graduates and ISLA researchers will benefit tremendously from this book.'

Ronald Leow, Georgetown University, USA

'Shawn Loewen has produced a succinct yet comprehensive volume on the role of instruction in second language learning. It begins by examining the key variables involved in L2 acquisition and the empirical studies investigating these processes. It then explores the issues related to the acquisition of different language sub-skills, such as grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and pragmatics. The book is commendable for its depth of coverage and the clarity with which issues are presented and discussed. It is an excellent resource for all those interested in learning about instructed SLA'.

Hossein Nassaji, University of Victoria, Canada

Praise for the first edition

'Shawn Loewen succeeds in making clear connections between theory and practice in this useful synthesis of classroom SLA research, and does so in a refreshing way that explores a range of instructional approaches across linguistic domains while also accounting for the role of context and individual differences.'

Roy Lyster, McGill University, Canada

'By providing a broad overview of ISLA, the author succeeds in filling a gap in the ISLA research base. This is a much needed source of information in the growing popularity of the study area.'

Marga Stander, University of the Free State, South Africa, in The LINGUIST List

From the Publisher