The Nature of Language: A Short Guide to What's in Our Heads

Bill VanPatten

ISBN 10: 1942544685 / ISBN 13: 9781942544685

Published by American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), US, 2019

About this Item

Why a book on the nature of language? The answer is surprising in this new book by Bill VanPatten. Language just isn't what most of us think it is-and because of that, the need to know about the nature of language takes on new importance for teachers who really want to teach for acquisition, who truly want to teach for communicative ability and proficiency. It provides teachers with one of the important arguments for striking out on their own and exploring new methods and alternative curricula and assessments. Engaging and reader friendly, this book will challenge every teacher's ideas about what winds up in learners' heads. It will lead teachers to question the content of most current textbooks and the practices contained in them.

Seller Inventory # LU-9781942544685

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Nature of Language: A Short Guide to What's in Our Heads
• Publisher: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), US
• Publication Date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1942544685
• ISBN 13: 9781942544685
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Weight: 181 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Unlock the secrets of language and revolutionize your teaching approach. Bill VanPatten's The Nature of Language challenges conventional wisdom, revealing that language is far more than textbooks suggest. This insightful guide is for educators eager to teach for true communicative ability and proficiency.

Discover how to break free from rigid curricula and explore innovative methods. This reader-friendly exploration of linguistics will transform your understanding of what truly resides in learners' minds. Question current practices and empower yourself to create dynamic, acquisition-focused classrooms. Perfect for language teachers, educators, and anyone fascinated by the science of language.

About the Author

Bill VanPatten, Ph.D. (University of Texas), has had a long, distinguished career in language acquisition and language teaching. He has held positions at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Texas Tech University, and most recently Michigan State University. He has published eight books, eight edited volumes, five college-level textbooks in Spanish and French (including movies and one telenovella for students), more than 130 articles and book chapters, and stories and fiction for students of Spanish. He is a frequently invited guest speaker and has lectured around the world. He was the host of Tea with BVP, a call-in talk show for language teachers, and now hosts its follow-up show, Talkin’ L2 with BVP. When not engaged in such endeavors, he writes fiction. His debut novel is Seidon’ s Tale.