Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Juregen]

I am doing a lot of "self study" in the area of language acquisition.

I am also hoping if there is something like the above title, is there a collection of research that covers this topic?

Titles and names would be nice.

[grainger]

I remember studing this in teachers college but I don't remember any book titles off the top of my head. It basically works like this though:

1. First comes listening, followed closely by speaking as required.

2. Second comes reading.

3. Last to be perfected is writing.

Of course there will be overlap but these are the three stages to achieving proficency. I've known adults who could speak all but fluently but couldn't write worth a damn.

[jbpatlanta]

try Stephen Krashen Principals and Practice in Second Language Acquisition Talks about conscience versus subconscience stages to acquire a second language.

or

Selinker International Review of Applied Linguistics talks about interchange which is his views on stages of language of acquisition. I have not read this one myself but it was quoted on one of my textbooks. Mybe useful.

[SuperHero]

forget Krashen.

If you want to know about SLA you need to read Rod Ellis (speaking at Oxford day on Nov 17th coincidentally). His writing is dense but well worth reading.

[Berghoff]

Don't forget Brown. The man is a god to our people. Brown, H.D. - Principles of Language Learning and Teaching. If you can make it through that book, you are a better person than I.

Easier read: Lightbrown and Spada - How Languages are Learned.

Also, haven't read, but heard good things... Gass and Selinker - Second Language Acquisition: An Introductory Course.


Gonna throw in my approval of Krashen, too.

[Juregen]

okay

I see that this topic is well researched. Good now to read all of it.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[spyro25]

i have it in one of my books, but i left it at school. i will get it for you tomorrow and post it on here.

[cubanlord]

[ddeubel]

I think a more valuable question would be - Is there a language window?

I think within this question, lies the clues and answers to the process of language acquisition. Using a model of how we learn L1 and then applying it to L2 acquisition has brought about some startling (nevertheless not definitively true) observations - especially when comparing twins.

DD

[Fishead soup]

My personal favorite is

I Own the Room
I Control the Class

By Steve Shertzer

[PRagic]

You could also try a quick search on scholar.google.com. The engine weeds out most of the non-academic stuff. Sometimes you have to search through some of the options to find a downloadable version. Still, aside from a library/university supplemented search engine, it's pretty good for academic purposes. Good luck.

[Manner of Speaking]

[Manner of Speaking]

[Samantha]

You also have to take into account which theory you want to follow. Like any set of competing theories they each have their good points and bad, and places where they out right contradict each other.

There's the Critical age hypothesis: In a nutshell,

[Juregen]

Theory is always nice, but i am looking for more practical use of these theories in the end.

how to correctly identify the level(s) and abilities of a student and then supporting this student with the correct material to go to the next stage.