Second Language Acquisition - Annotated Bibliography Example

Sur Second Language Acquisition Annotated Bibliography Gruber-Miller, John. When Dead Tongues Speak: Teaching Beginning Greek and Latin. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. Internet resource. In this book, Gruber-Miller John presents a comprehensive coverage on the teaching of Greek and Latin languages to beginners who are not the native speakers of these languages. He says that language is a very powerful tool that every person should be armed with because it can help in communicating ideas and one’s thoughts. So, when teaching a second language to students, the teacher should be keen to adopt a holistic approach. Every teacher should be careful on the way the learners are introduced to a new language because it can help in preparing them to acquire the necessary skills that the new language itself entails. These should not only be restricted to Greek and Latin, but be extended to other languages. This book can be so resourceful while conducting a research on the second language acquisition. It is relevant as it contains all the necessary guidelines that can be followed by a second language instructor. In a large number of the chapters, the author has explained much about second language acquisition. So, in the research, it would have to be used. In it, accurate, well-researched, authoritative and credible information can be sourced. Johnson, Robert K. The Second Language Curriculum. Cambridge [England: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Print. In the Second Language Curriculum, Johnson Robert writes on the curriculum of a second language. In this book, the author provides a comprehensive coverage of a typical syllabus that should be adopted by teachers while teaching their learners about a second language. According to his research, a good curriculum should distinguish native and non native speakers. Therefore, any student who speaks a language, for example English as a second language, should be keenly instructed to ensure that they grasp the knowledge without many struggles. As a scholar, Robert appeals to the top educationists and decision makers to ensure that the curriculum design for the teaching of a second language is not similar to that of the native speakers. Each of them requires a different approach because of their backgrounds. This book can also be so valuable while carrying out a research on second language acquisition. It spells out the appropriate design of the curriculum that should be used while teaching a second language. He uses lots of examples to illustrate how a curriculum should look like. Therefore, such a curriculum, if adopted as designed, can help in ensuring that the work of teaching a second language is a success. Jordens, Peter, and Josine A. Lalleman. Investigating Second Language Acquisition. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, 1996. Print. (S.B) Here, Jordens, Peter and Josine A. Lalleman carry out an investigative study on the acquisition of second language. They say that second language has always proven to be a difficult language to acquire. Most of the times, scholars have been concentrating on the native speakers. In USA, English, which is mainly used as a medium of instruction, is not a native language to everyone. There are quite a large number of learners from immigrant groups like blacks, Asians and Latinos. To such learners, English is their second language. So, for them to be effectively enabled to acquire the language, they need to be properly taught. All these are important facts contained in this book. Since it contains all these information, the book would be a very invaluable resource for this research. In chapter three, the authors discuss much about second language acquisition. This bit provides important information that should not be left out while carrying out studies on this topic. All the other chapters also contain such information. By using them, it would make the research to be valid and authoritative since it would be based on facts from these scholars. Kramsch, Claire. Language Acquisition and Language Socialization Ecological Perspectives. London: Continuum, 2002. Print. In this book, the author do not just discuss about second language, but go ahead to focus on finer details that many scholars have not been bothering to research on. In chapter two, they emphasize that language is a very important thing in the society for it is used as a socialization tool. This, in Kramsch’s opinion implies that language should be properly acquired and nurtured for it to achieve its societal goals. However, when it comes to acquisition, this writer exclaims that those who are not native speakers can also be able to acquire the knowledge of a second language, but only through the support of others. When conducting a research on the acquisition of a second language, this book would not be left out because it contains a lot of important information. The examples and explanations given by Kramsch are so adequate to help in understanding much about the concept of second language acquisition. It contains findings which are really relevant to the research to be conducted. Thus, it needs to be included as a resource. Most of the chapters are full of explanations that can add a lot of value when used in this research. Ritchie, William C, and Tej K. Bhatia. The New Handbook of Second Language Acquisition. Bingley, UK: Emerald, 2009. Print. In this book, Ritchie, William C, and Tej K. Bhatia present a candid discussion on the concept of second language acquisition. They say that a language is not restricted to a certain group of people or a particular community even if it culturally belongs to them. Instead, a language can be acquired by anyone so long as they are exposed to it. However, for acquisition, which in their opinion is a process, to be fully attained, the learner should be given an ample opportunity. This can make it much better for them to know the basics, grammatical rules, phonologies and morphologies of the language. The book can help in conducting a research on second language acquisition. It contains lots of important information about the process of acquisition of a second language. The guidelines provided to instructors of second language can assist in understanding how well the teaching process should be organized. Thus, it is relevant and must form part of this extensive research. Schachter, Jacquelyn, and Susan M. Gass. Linguistic Perspectives on Second Language Acquisition. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1989. Print. In this book, Schachter, Jacquelyn, and Susan M. Gass examine the finer details of second language acquisition. They say that it is a very sophisticated concept that needs critical minds to manage. Therefore, in their opinion, learners should be taught using the recommended teaching pedagogies appropriate for them as non-native speakers. When it comes to English language, not everyone should be taught in a similar manner. This is because; the authors claim that the learners come from different linguistic backgrounds. Therefore, the issue of second language acquisition should be taken so seriously beginning from designing a suitable curriculum and fully implementing it to ensure that all the objectives are met. Indeed, the ideas expressed by these scholars can be so appropriate if included in the research. Their arguments on the process of second language acquisition are quite good. They say relevant opinions that need to be applied in this research so as to make it authoritative that it would otherwise be. Rutherford, William E. Language Universals and Second Language Acquisition: Containing the Contributions to a Conference on Language Universals and Second Language Acquisition Held at the University of Southern California, February 1982. Amsterdam: J. Benjamins Pub. Co, 1984. Print In this book, Rutherford, William presents a discussion on the concept of language acquisition as was presented at the University of Southern California’s Conference on Language Universals and Second Language Acquisition. According to the author, second language acquisition has posed a great challenge to the global community. Most of he times, many instructors have not been doing their work well. Thus, English has been appearing as a challenging language particularly to non-native speakers. As experts, the presenters in the conference said that the curriculum for the second language instruction should be relooked so as to make it be better that it is today. This, in their opinion, will bring some improvements to the second language acquisition process. The book would help in conducting a research on second language acquisition. It contains a collection of papers presented at this great conference by reputable scholars from all walks of life. Therefore, they can be trusted as credible and relevant for this research. Vivian, Cook. Second Language Learning and Language Teaching. London: Routledge. 2008. Print. In this book, Vivian, Cook is quite categorical on the concept of second language acquisition. They say that second language should not be given dismal treatment because it matters as well to the non-native speakers. So, while teaching it, the writer says that instructors should ensure that they are not disadvantaged whatsoever. It is for this reason that they claim that second language skills should be imparted on instructors so as to make them exceptional in their work. This book is also a very important resource for conducting a research on second language acquisition. It has important information which should be included in the research. Information included in chapter four can help in understanding and assessing how an ideal second language instructor should be prepared to organize an ideal class for their learners. All these information are relevant to the research. Sanz, Cristina. Mind and Context in Adult Second Language Acquisition: Methods, Theory, and Practice. Washington, D.C: Georgetown Univ. Press, 2005. Print. The author explains how the adult learners should be taught a second language. As they explain, the process of teaching the adults should adopt a somewhat different strategy from that used for the kids. Thus, it means that their mental capacity has developed to some extent. Therefore, for this author, second language acquisition should be done depending on the age of the learner. When conducting a research on second language acquisition, this book would be used as an invaluable resource. Its chapters contain useful information that can enable the researcher to understand much about how effectively the process should be applied on adults. Actually, this is one of the sections captured by the research since it would not only focus on kids, but adults as well. Schachter, Jacquelyn, and Susan M. Gass. Linguistic Perspectives on Second Language Acquisition. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1989. Print. Here, the authors present more illustrations on the idea of second language acquisition. According to their research, even if the knowledge of a second language is very important to the non-native speakers, they do not know that there are lots of things that are involved. They say that it entails the long and complex process of instruction that needs to be carefully and keenly undertaken. It is for this reason that the scholar argues that everyone right from the learners to the instructors should be fully prepared for it. In this regard, the book would be a useful resource for a research on the topic of second language acquisition. All the ideas expressed by this scholar are so valuable and relevant to this kind of study. Its inclusion as source would be a milestone in achieving the ultimate goals of the research: finding an ultimate solution to the problem of second language acquisition. Michelle Maxom.Teaching English as a Foreign Language For Dummies.New York: For Dummies. 2012. Print. Here, the author provides a detailed coverage of the teaching of a second language. In his opinion, a second language teacher should be deeply prepared in the teaching strategies and pedagogies which are exclusively applicable to this caliber of learners. based on this, the author exclaims that a proper teaching should be done to such teachers so as to make them prepared on teaching the non-native speakers basic skills in grammar, speaking, listening and all the rules that they should know in a language that they wish to know much about. In this regard, when doing a research, this book needs to be used as a resource because it is relevant and contains useful information that should form part of the research. Larry Ferlazzo and Katie Hull Sypnieski. The ESL / ELL Teachers Survival Guide: Ready-to-Use Strategies, Tools, and Activities for Teaching English Language Learners of All Levels. New York: Jossey-Bass. In this book, Larry Ferlazzo and Katie Hull Sypnieski discuss about the process of second language acquisition. In the research that he had done, he found out that the need for a second language does not only apply to English, but to any other foreign or local language that one does not speak as a native. So, however challenging it might be, everyone should take the initiative to ensure that second language acquisition is a success. As an expert, however, Larry Ferlazzo and Katie Hull Sypnieski throw the responsibility to the curriculum designers to be much concerned about the kind of content that the ESL students are exposed to as far as the second language acquisition is concerned. So, just like the other resources, this book would not be left out while conducting a research on second language acquisition. From the skimming of its chapters, it is indeed undoubtedly an invaluable resource. Read More