Second Language Learning Theories

An introductory survey of theoretical perspectives on second language learning. It offers a concise overview of the different theories of SLL and each chapter outlines theoretical perspectives with an element of evaluation to the area explored.

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This text presents an introductory survey of current theoretical perspectives on second language learning. Written as a successor text to McLaughlin's "Theories of Second Language Learning", it focuses individual chapters on major schools in SLL theory. These offer both introductory summaries and outlines of different theoretical perspectives with an element of evaluation to the area explored. A broad range of issues is spanned and full consideration is given to: the "functionalist" work of the European Science Foundation project team; "connectionism", a recent arrival within the "psychological" perspective; and recent attempts to apply contemporary sociocultural theories to SLA.