Applied Linguistics and Materials Development

Description

Focuses for the first time on materials development and applications of current research and theory for the main areas of applied linguistics (e.g. second language acquisition, pragmatics, vocabulary studies). There are many books on applied linguistic theory and research and there are now a number of books on the principled development of materials for language learning, but this book takes a new approach by connecting the two concerns. Each of its chapters first of all presents relevant theories and research conclusions for its area and then considers practical applications for materials development. The chapters achieve these applications by reporting and commenting on current theory and research, by analysing the match between current published materials and current theory and by suggesting and exemplifying applications of current theory to materials development. This will be an essential resource both for those studying or teaching materials development and for those studying or teaching applied linguistics.

Brian Tomlinson is a Visiting Professor at Leeds Metropolitan University, UK. He has worked in Japan, Indonesia, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, the UK, Vanuatu and Zambia and has given presentations in over sixty countries. He is Founder and President of MATSDA and has published many articles and books on materials development and on aspects of language teaching and language acquisition.

For many years Brian Tomlinson has led the way internationally in the field of materials development. This edited book by him is another example of innovative, research-based exploration of materials for language teaching that never loses sight of the classroom nor of the need for pedagogy that is reflective, informed and learner-sensitive. And there is a great cast-list of contributors. Highly recommended. * Professor Ronald Carter, School of English, University of Nottingham, UK * Just under a quarter of the material for the book [...] has been written by Tomlinson. This is indicative of his iconic status in the area of Materials Development . . . In his role as editor Tomlinson has collected a star-studded cast of contributors . . . ideal for graduate students of MA or MSc programmes in TESOL, as each chapter contains excellent overviews of current scholarship, and seeks to link these, when possible, to classroom practice. -- Gregory Hadley, Niigata University of International and Information Studies * Systems * [T]he volume arguably provides 'reader-friendly' information from three different sources within the field of applied linguistics - research, materials development and language teaching. We are used to reading either scientific academic writing reporting on research findings, or summary descriptions of the criteria on which instructional materials are based, or practical teachers' guides instructing practitioners on what to do in the classroom and how to do it; each in their own 'jargon'. This book puts the three sources and their 'jargons' together, so that in one single volume we can read about research findings, principled criteria for materials design and ideas on how they can be applied to classroom practice. Also extremely valuable are the useful tips for the targeted readership... the main aim of the volume - encouraging a closer link and a constructive cooperation between theorists and practitioners by means of fully-informed and principled materials development practice - has been achieved. -- Paola-Maria Caleffi, University of Verona * Iperstoria.it * The volume as a whole is thought provoking and provides a good basis for anyone looking to incorporate more theory into their practice. Each chapter ends with suggestions on how to use the theories discussed to create class materials ... Nonetheless, this volume delivers a number of insights into theory and practice that will make it invaluable to the field. -- Jeffrey S. Moore * Studies in Second Language Acquisition *