Sociocultural Theory in Second Language Education : An Introduction Through Narratives

In this accessible introduction to Vygotskyian sociocultural theory, narratives illuminate key concepts of the theory. These key concepts, addressed across seven chapters, include mediation; Zone of Proximal Development; collaborative dialogue; private speech; everyday and scientific concepts; the interrelatedness of cognition and emotion, activity theory and assessment. An eighth chapter provides readers with an opportunity to consider two additional narratives and apply the SCT concepts that they have become familiar with. These narratives come from individuals in a variety of languages, contexts, ages and proficiencies. We hear from learners, teachers and researchers. Intended for graduate and undergraduate audiences, this textbook includes controversies in the field, questions for collaborative discussion and provides references to important work in the literature of second language teaching, learning and research.

Merrill Swain is Professor Emerita at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto. She has researched and published extensively in the fields of second language learning, teaching and testing.  Her recent interests include immersion education, languaging and the inseparability of cognition and emotion.  She was President of AAAL and Vice President of AILA. She received the Distinguished Scholarship and Service Award of AAAL (2004) and received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Vaasa in Finland in 2011.

Penny Kinnear is Lecturer and Communication Coordinator for English Language Learning at the University of Toronto.

Linda C Steinman is Associate Professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics at York University in Toronto.