Listening in a second language is challenge for students and teachers alike. This book provides a personal account of an action research intervention involving listening strategy instruction that investigated the viability of this innovative pedagogy in the Japanese university context.

This comprehensive collection, comprising both theoretical and practical contributions, is unique in its focus on language learning strategy instruction (LLSI). The chapters, written by leading international experts, embrace both sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic perspectives. The issues presented include different models of strategy instruction and how they can be tailored according to context and the learners’ age and attainment level. The collection will be an important resource for researchers in the field, both for its critical perspectives and its guidance on collaborating with teachers to design interventions to implement strategy instruction. It also identifies key areas for research, including the teaching of less studied groups of strategies such as grammar and affective strategies. The book will prove equally valuable to language teachers through the provision of detailed teaching materials and tasks. Those engaged in professional development, whether pre- or in-service teacher education, will find a wealth of concrete ideas for sessions, courses and assignments.

Developing Notetaking Skills in a Second Language combines theoretical perspectives with an analysis of empirical classroom studies and offers a detailed discussion that increases pedagogical awareness of factors impacting second language (L2) notetaking performance and instruction. Based on original research and including descriptions of classroom practices and samples of student work, the book provides insights on a range of topics relevant to L2 notetaking. The book emphasizes the challenges that many students from different international backgrounds face when taking notes in an L2 and outlines a five-stage pedagogic cycle for notetaking that can be applied to any listening text. It also explores the dialogic potential of notes for stimulating class discussion about notetaking strategies. This book will be of great interest for teachers, academics, scholars, and postgraduate students in the fields of applied linguistics, L2 and foreign language education. It will also be a useful resource for those in charge of teacher education and postgraduate TESOL, L1, and L2 listening researchers and psycholinguists.

This authoritative volume is a practical, comprehensive, and state-of-the-art overview of current knowledge and research on second and foreign language teaching and learning. Thorough and reader-friendly, the Handbook is organized logically into six parts that address all major areas of L2/FL teaching and learning: Part I: Learning Contexts and Language Teaching covers the diverse populations of language learners, their needs, and the challenges they face Part II: Curriculum and Instruction addresses curriculum and materials design, and includes exemplars of instructional approaches with wide applicability across contexts Part III: Listening and Speaking overviews listening pedagogy, speaking skills, and pronunciation, among other key topics Part IV: Reading and Writing includes chapters on all practical matters related to learning to write in another language, with attention to spelling, orthography, extensive reading, and more Part V: Vocabulary and Grammar discusses assumptions and practical approaches on vocabulary and grammar instruction, with attention to important topics such as academic writing and multiword expressions Part VI: Intercultural Communication and Pragmatics concludes the Handbook with an examination of language learning across social, cultural, and regional differences Bringing together leading experts in the field, the contributors offer important perspectives on major, established, and emerging topics. Each chapter overviews important developments, key research, and considerations and applications for effective second language instruction. A well-rounded, readable, and up-to-date resource, the Handbook is a compendium of the ongoing changes, innovations, and practices in L2/FL teaching and learning. It is an essential resource for students, teachers, faculty, and professionals.

This volume provides an up-to-date and comprehensive coverage of second language learning. The focus throughout the book is primarily on language learning, but each chapter also discusses the implications for teaching and assessment, thus informing both understanding and practice. The book contains nine sections, which aim to organise and reflect different dimensions of the diverse and complex scope of learning English as a second or additional language. Four themes which permeate the chapters are: learning and learners; learning and language; learning and language development; learning and learning context. The 36 chapters are up-to-date and authoritative, written by experts in the field. The content is accessibly written, with questions for discussion and follow-up reading suggestions provided.

This book offers a range of perspectives and insights from around the world on the teaching and learning of listening, speaking, reading and writing. It brings together contributors from across six continents, who analyse a wide range of teaching and learning contexts, including primary, secondary, tertiary, private, and adult ESL/EFL classes. In doing so, they provide locally relevant accounts that nonetheless resonate with other contexts and wider concerns. This informative and practical edited collection will appeal to students and scholars who are interested in the four building blocks of language learning, as well as language education and teacher education.

Research-Driven Pedagogy: Implications of L2A Theory and Research for the Teaching of Language Skills brings together the essentials of second language acquisition (SLA) theory, research, and second language (L2) pedagogy. Uniquely, the design of this book helps researchers and practitioners make explicit connections between theory, research, and practice; learn about and conduct classroom research to contribute to the relevance and applicability of SLA research; and improve current L2 curriculum and instruction in light of current theory and research. The volume offers critical reviews of the most relevant, current SLA theory and research about receptive, productive, complementary, and nonverbal communication skills, as well as willingness to communicate (WTC). Each chapter is formatted to include five major topics about each language skill: (1) major theories, (2) critical reviews of salient/current research, (3) commonly-used data collection and analysis techniques, (4) summary of specific pedagogical implications of pertinent research and theory, and (5) theory and research-driven scenarios/activities that can be used in teaching. A teacher or a researcher can pick any chapter in this volume to learn about the most important language skills (e.g., reading, writing, nonverbal communication), while having all-in-one place access to almost everything they would need.