Teacher Discussion Forums

Hi,

I'm a graduate (distance) student and I'm working on an assignment on adult EFL.

This assignment also features a brief review of the research agenda in EFL. I'd like to make the point that most research and publications deal with young language learners, that is children and adolescents, and not adult learners. This can be a problem for adult educators.

However, even though the sheer mass of publications that belong to the former research field (young language learners) proves my point right, I don't seem to be able to find any 'meta' literature that mentions this.

Can anyone direct me to relevant readings in this 'meta' area.?

Nico

I have to say that I disagree completely. The vast majority of writings and research within the TESOL has been with adult learners. If you look at Nunan's Language Learning and Teaching, for instance, you will not find a single reference to teaching children.

My consternation has been in the opposite direction - trying to find research based info to guide pedagogy. Much of the materials and activities that have been designed for young learners is not attached or supported explicitly by any particular theories of language education. I have looked! If there is attachment to research, it is on Piaget or Vygotsky, theories which evolved over the last 50 years or more, and very little paradigm innovations have occured in the field since then.