Key Questions in Second Language Acquisition: An Introduction

Bill VanPatten · Megan Smith · Alessandro G. Benati

Dec 2019 · Cambridge University Press

About this ebook

This highly accessible introductory textbook carefully explores the main issues that have driven the field of second language acquisition research. Intended for students with little or no background in linguistics or psycholinguistics, it explains important linguistic concepts, and how and why they are relevant to second language acquisition. Topics are presented via a 'key questions' structure that enables the reader to understand how these questions have motivated research in the field, and the problems to which researchers are seeking solutions. It provides a complete package for any introductory course on second language acquisition.

About the author

Bill VanPatten was formerly Professor of Spanish and Second Language Studies at Michigan State University and is now an independent scholar. He has had a long and distinguished academic career and has published widely in the fields of second language acquisition and second language teaching.

Megan Smith is an Assistant Professor at Mississippi State University. Her main research interests are in second language acquisition, particularly L2 syntax and psycholinguistics.

Alessandro Benati is Director of CAES at The University of Hong Kong (HKU). He is known for his work in second language acquisition and second language teaching. He has published ground-breaking research on the pedagogical framework called Processing Instruction. He is co-editor of a new online series for Cambridge University Press, a member of the REF Panel 2021, and Honorary Professor at York St John University.