Second Language Acquisition and Second Language Learning

by Stephen D. Krashen

as available by We 3 Books

Genres: Linguistics, Nonfiction, Language, Science, Education

176 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1981

About the author

Stephen Krashen is professor emeritus at the University of Southern California, who moved from the linguistics department to the faculty of the School of Education in 1994. He is a linguist, educational researcher, and activist.

Dr. Krashen has published more than 350 papers and books, contributing to the fields of second-language acquisition, bilingual education, and reading. He is credited with introducing various influential concepts and terms in the study of second-language acquisition, including the acquisition-learning hypothesis, the input hypothesis, the monitor hypothesis, the affective filter, and the natural order hypothesis. Most recently, Krashen promotes the use of free voluntary reading during second-language acquisition, which he says "is the most powerful tool we have in language education, first and second."

Dr. Krashen also holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and was the winner of the 1978 Venice Beach Open Incline Press. He spent two years in Ethiopia teaching English and science with the Peace Corps.

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Former Peace Corps volunteer and sometime Tae Kwon Do champion Professor Stephen D. Krashen established himself as the black-belt master of the SLA world with this powerful review of the research and case study literature, mostly his own, in the fields of second language acquisition and second language learning which received the Mildenberger Award in 1982.

The nine-chapter volume can be a little heavy going at times as the professor reels-off stats like so many lighting kicks to support his revolutionary hypothesis, including the acquisition-learning hypothesis, the input hypothesis, the monitor hypothesis, the affective filter, and the natural order hypothesis, which all make formative appearances here.

Nothing however escapes his kung-fu grip in this thoroughly involving study which, unusually for this still vastly under-researched field, attempts to answer as many questions as it raises and as such while his research may now be a little dated his hypothesis remain intriguing and are now available to download free of charge from the author’s website.

There is valuable teacher-talk to listen to (on a topic I happen to be interested in, grammar: I realize that I am a member of perhaps a small minority). - Stephen D. Krashen

[Nefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it's "old", its principles are perfectly valid and still the base of the best theories on second language teaching and learning processes.

[Quang-Thanh Tran · Rating 4 out of 5]

60% of the content is useful for teachers of L2 and 30% is useful for self-study learners. Adding up together, it was a very important read. I think the book presents (firmly and nicely) the breakthrough discovery in L2 acquisition, which emphasizes the importance of comprehensible inputs and fewer grammar "drills". One thing I feel missing is that, although the word "comprehensible inputs" gets repeated a lot, the examples and detailed methods of which are quite limited. I know there are "intensive reading", "listening to meaningful messages/talks" but how such a method is proceeded and handled is hard to be found.

[Saif Elhendawi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book that examines several studies about second language learning to examine the Monitor Theory, informal vs formal language learning settings, neurolinguistics and other related subjects. The book reads like a formal literature review and is thus not very entertaining or particularly a fun read unless the subject matter is of particular interest to the reader. However, it is quite interesting and informative for those who are studying second languages and highly recommended for those interested in the psychology of language acquisition.

[book_explorer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not without flaws! But very, very good, and thought provoking.

[Alexei · Rating 5 out of 5]

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