Issues in Second Language Teaching is a text-book written in order to help trainee teachers and more experienced teachers reflect on certain topics related to second language learning and language teaching. It provides readers with a better understanding of the interface between second language learning theory and research, and language teaching practices. The main objective of the textbook is to develop and enhance readers' theoretical and practical understanding of how teachers should approach the way they teach languages in the classroom. Readers will be asked to reflect on the implications of second language learning research and theory on language teaching by providing an analysis of how the principles derived from research can be applied in the language classroom when it comes to issues such as teaching grammar, correct errors, provide 'good' input, develop output activities or encourage interaction between learners. The textbook does not support a particular methodology for language teaching but focuses on specific themes in relation to language teaching.
Alessandro Benati is the Head of the English Department at the American University of Sharjah. He has previously worked in the United Kingdom at the University of Greenwich, Queen Mary and Westfield College, Middlesex University, and the University of Portsmouth. He is honorary visiting professor at the University of York St john, UK. Alessandro is internationally known for his research in second language acquisition and second language teaching. He has published ground-breaking research with James Lee on the pedagogical framework called processing instruction. He is co-Editor of the journal ISLA (Equinox Publishing), and Editor of the Advanced ISLA Research Book Series for Bloomsbury Publishing. He is a member of the editorial board for the journal Language Teaching Research and Co-Editor of the Grammar World Japanese online platform. He has recently launched with John Schwieter a new series for Cambridge University Press called Elements in Second Language Acquisition. Alessandro has co-ordinated national and international high-impact research projects funded by the European Union, Leverhulme Trust, British Academy, Sassakawa Foundation, Japanese MEXT, and the School Challenge. He is a member of the AHRC Peer Review College and the REF Panel 2021.He is currently working on two monographs (Key Questions in Second Language Acquisition: An Introduction and Key Issues in Second Language Teaching) for Cambridge University Press