Second Language Practice

Georges Duquette

ISBN 10: 1853593052 / ISBN 13: 9781853593055

Published by Channel View Publications Ltd, GB, 1995

Over the last twenty five years, many theorists specialising in second language acquisition have promoted the communicative approach. Their arguments have been very convincing, but many school boards and teachers remain unsure as to how to implement this approach in the classroom; they do not know which specific skills should be developed, at which levels, or what strategies should be used. Since teachers are practical people, they need a publication which offers them ideas on how to develop second language skills in their students at various levels of competence development. We now know enough about the acquisition process that we can provide clear theoretical directions and practical examples of strategies consistent with second language theory. There is more than one way of getting students to develop communicative competence and there is always room for sharpening specific skills and adapting them to a variety of social contexts which are themselves culturally specific. Nevertheless, we do need to get started, and this book attempts to provide some leadership in this direction by bridging current theory with classroom practice while, at the same time, emphasising classroom strategies. Innovative teachers and administrators can then continue the process, add or subtract to the repertoire of strategies, in accordance with their student and programme needs. Seller Inventory # LU-9781853593055

Synopsis:

Over the last twenty five years, many theorists specialising in second language acquisition have promoted the communicative approach. Their arguments have been very convincing, but many school boards and teachers remain unsure as to how to implement this approach in the classroom; they do not know which specific skills should be developed, at which levels, or what strategies should be used. Since teachers are practical people, they need a publication which offers them ideas on how to develop second language skills in their students at various levels of competence development. We now know enough about the acquisition process that we can provide clear theoretical directions and practical examples of strategies consistent with second language theory. There is more than one way of getting students to develop communicative competence and there is always room for sharpening specific skills and adapting them to a variety of social contexts which are themselves culturally specific. Nevertheless, we do need to get started, and this book attempts to provide some leadership in this direction by bridging current theory with classroom practice while, at the same time, emphasising classroom strategies. Innovative teachers and administrators can then continue the process, add or subtract to the repertoire of strategies, in accordance with their student and programme needs.

About the Author: Georges Duquette (Ph.D., State University of New York at Buffalo) is Associate Professor at the School of Education, Laurentian University. He has taught English and French both as a first and second language at the elementary and secondary school levels and later, classroom methodology and second language university courses. His publications on bilingual and minority language education have appeared in journals in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. He is, with Lilliam Malave, co-editor of Language, Culture and Cognition (Multilingual Matters, 1991) and author of Methodes et strategies pour l'enseignement au secondaire (Les editions Soleil Publications, 1992).

Bibliographic Details

Title: Second Language Practice
Publisher: Channel View Publications Ltd, GB
Publication Date: 1995
Binding: Paperback
Condition: New