Spanish Second Language Acquisition

Spanish Second Language Acquisition
Author: Barbara Armstrong Lafford
Publisher: Georgetown University Press
Total Pages: 352
Release: 2003
Genre: Foreign Language Study
ISBN: 9780878409075

This book is a reference that provides an overview of the major work done in Spanish second language acquisition. It contains a section on the major theoretical approaches (generative, cognitive, and sociocultural), a section on the major elements of language (phonemes, morphemes, tense, syntax, discourse, pragmatics), and a concluding chapter on the effects of different instructional approaches. We are publishing it primarily for its potential course use, but the quality of the contributors will also attract attention from scholars.

How Output Affects Explicit and Implicit Knowledge of Spanish Indirect Object Pronouns

How Output Affects Explicit and Implicit Knowledge of Spanish Indirect Object Pronouns
Author: Lissette Perez
Publisher:
Total Pages: 221
Release: 2014
Genre:
ISBN:

Although many studies have suggested positive effects for speaking or output practice on L2 grammar development, the question of how speaking affects L2 grammar remains. This study specifically examines how output affects the explicit and implicit knowledge of Spanish indirect object pronouns (IOPs). It also investigates levels of L2 grammar development for participants with low, mid and high levels of background knowledge of Spanish subject-verb agreement. Eight participants were given explicit grammar instruction on the target structure followed by six paired output-focus activities. These included two information-gap tasks, a matching task, a partner interview, original sentence creation, and a dictogloss task. In each task participants were required to orally produce IOPs whether they were reading a prepared IOP or producing one originally based on a prompt. In order to capture qualitative data on the effectiveness of output, all paired interaction was transcribed and coded for language related episodes (LREs). In this study three types of LREs were identified: self-correction, other-correction and metatalk. Learners were also tested on IOPs immediately before instruction, immediately following and three weeks afterward. Quantitative data consisted of these results of pre, post, and delayed posttests, the number of IOPs produced during all instructional activities, and the percentage of correct IOPs produced compared to those omitted or produced incorrectly. Development of explicit knowledge was assessed by an untimed written picture description task, whereas implicit knowledge was assessed on the tests by a timed grammaticality judgment task. The results of the picture description task showed more consistent gains in development of explicit knowledge. The results of the grammaticality judgment task were more irregular and suggested less consistent gains in development of implicit knowledge. Together, quantitative and qualitative results suggest that explicit instruction followed by output practice was most effective for learners in this study with greater knowledge of subject-verb agreement. A comparison of qualitative results and test scores revealed that learners who showed more focus on the lexicon during instructional tasks and did not produce IOPs as often, and also had lower scores on both tests. Stronger learning outcomes were observed for learners who produced more IOPs, had a higher percentage of correct IOPs and were involved in LREs.

A Reference Grammar of Spanish

A Reference Grammar of Spanish
Author: R. E. Batchelor
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 574
Release: 2010-04-29
Genre: Foreign Language Study
ISBN: 9780521728751

A Reference Grammar of Spanish is a comprehensive handbook on the structure of the Spanish language. Keeping technical terminology to a minimum, it provides a detailed yet clear point of reference on all the intricacies of Spanish grammar, covering word order, parts of speech, verb use, syntax, gender, number, alphabet, and pronunciation. Accompanied by a wealth of carefully chosen examples, it looks at Spanish in Iberia, the USA, Mexico, and Argentina, and demonstrates the differences between these varieties. It is designed specifically with English-speaking learners in mind, and contains useful tools such as a glossary of terms, an index, and a detailed examination of different registers of the language. Clearly structured and systematically organised, this volume is set to become the standard guide to the grammar of contemporary Spanish, and will be an invaluable resource for teachers and students, as well as a practical supplement to textbooks and classroom study.

Introduction to Instructed Second Language Acquisition

Introduction to Instructed Second Language Acquisition
Author: Shawn Loewen
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 223
Release: 2014-07-21
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1136305920

Introduction to Instructed Second Language Acquisition is the first book to present a cohesive view of the different theoretical and pedagogical perspectives that comprise instructed second language acquisition (ISLA), defined as any type of learning that occurs as a result of the manipulating the process and conditions of second language acquisition. The book begins by considering the effectiveness of ISLA and the differences between ISLA and naturalistic L2 learning. It then goes on to discuss the theoretical, empirical, and pedagogical aspects of such key issues in ISLA as grammar learning; interaction in the classroom; focus on form, function and meaning; vocabulary learning; pronunciation learning; pragmatics learning; learning contexts; and individual differences. This timely and important volume is ideally suited for the graduate level ISLA course, and provides valuable insights for any SLA scholar interested in the processes involved in second language learning in classroom settings.

Explicit Learning in the L2 Classroom

Explicit Learning in the L2 Classroom
Author: Ronald P. Leow
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 300
Release: 2015-02-20
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1134587538

Explicit Learning in the L2 Classroom offers a unique five-prong (theoretical, empirical, methodological, pedagogical, and model building) approach to the issue of explicit learning in the L2 classroom from a student-centered perspective. To achieve this five-prong objective, the book reports the theoretical underpinnings, empirical studies, and the research designs employed in current research to investigate the constructs of attention and awareness in SLA with the objectives to (1) propose a model of the L2 learning process in SLA that accounts for the cognitive processes employed during this process and (2) provide pedagogical and curricular implications for the L2 classroom. The book also provides a comprehensive treatise of research methodology that is aimed at not only underscoring the major features of conducting robust research designs with high levels of internal validity but also preparing teachers to become critical readers of published empirical research.