Second Language Processing: An Analysis of Theory, Problems and Possible Solutions

Description

Second Language Processing examines the problems facing learners in the second language classroom from the theoretical perspectives of Processing Instruction (structured input) and Enhanced Input. These two theories are brought to bear on a variety of processing problems, such as the difficulty of connecting second language grammatical forms encoding tense and mood as well as noun-adjective agreement with their meaning. Empirical studies examine a range of languages including Japanese, Italian and Spanish, through which the authors suggest practical solutions to these processing problems. This monograph will be of interest to postgraduates and academics researching second language acquisition and applied linguistics.

James F. Lee is Deputy Head of School in the School of Humanities and Languages in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales, Australia, where he teaches courses in language, linguistics and SLA. His research focuses on second language input processing. Alessandro Benati is Professor and Director of CAES, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. He is internationally known for his research in second language acquisition and second language teaching. He has published ground-breaking research on the pedagogical framework called Processing Instruction. Alessandro's research reflects his long-term commitment to making theory and research accessible to non-specialists.

"Second Language Processing by James F. Lee and Alessandro Benati brings together two areas of research: input processing and input enhancement. Backed by four solid empirical studies, the book presents additional evidence to support that structured input (SI) activities are successful in pushing L2 learners to make form-meaning connections. As their research demonstrates, because the very nature of SI activities forces learners to notice target grammatical forms, further enhancement is not necessary to get learners to process these forms. Well-written, clear, and accessible, this volume will be appreciated by both graduate students and scholars, and is a welcomed addition to input processing research." -- Wynne Wong, Associate Professor of French and Second Language Acquisition at The Ohio State University, USA