Instructed Second Language Acquisition

Course content

Research in Instructed Second Language Acquisition (ISLA) is inspired by the idea that knowledge about the language learning process can be useful for teaching practice. Adopting this integrative view in this seminar, we will approach the topic from a linguistic perspective and then discuss implications for language teaching. We will consider the following core questions:

• (How) is instruction beneficial for second language learning?
• How can the effectiveness of instruction be optimised? (Loewen, 2014).

We will discuss relevant theoretical approaches and empirical findings from second language acquisition research that might have direct applications to classroom teaching. We will also discuss theoretical approaches that are relevant to language teaching, such as types of instruction (e.g. meaning-focused versus form-focused instruction, implicit versus explicit instruction) and discuss empirical findings that relate to the effectiveness of these approaches for language development and learning. We will cover topics such as the difference between instructed and natural second language acquisition, the role of input and the effects of input manipulation, natural versus classroom interaction (and the role of feedback), processing accounts of language learning and their application to the language classroom, as well as different types of instruction and their effect on language development/learning. Participants are required to have solid knowledge of second language acquisition, e.g. by having taken the A2 course on SLA.