Understanding Second Language Acquisition (Oxford Applied Linguistics)

Rating:
Summary: comprehensive and clear
Review: "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.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent "reference" book
Review: Although the book contains a lot of valuable data for trainee teachers, the author's opinions are not stated.

Rating:
Summary: Bad, bad choice!!
Review: I'm a third-year graduate student, and this book was just too difficult to read. It assumes a massive amount of prior knowledge of SLA. The theories and concepts are hard to grasp, and it includes so many summaries of previous studies that you've forgotten the point before you finish. Not to mention that no clear views are stated. Every section of theory, and this book is VERY theoretically oriented, concludes with the statement that there are no clear answers and that the debate continues. Most likely, you already know everything the author is willing to take a firm stand on: Positive attitudes and motivation are conducive to learning a second language; different learning strategies work for different people; and second language learning should start at an early age. Save your time and money, and choose another book, if at all possible.