Skip to main content

Relevance of Knowledge of Second Language Acquisition

An in-depth case study of a non-native EFL teacher

  • Chapter
Applied Linguistics and Language Teacher Education

Part of the book series: Educational Linguistics ((EDUL,volume 4))

  • 3611 Accesses

Conclusion

This case study examined the relevance of SLA knowledge through (1) investigating the process of learning and understanding SLA knowledge, (2) comparing and contrasting the theoretical orientations between the instructor and a teacher-learner, and (3) documenting the impact of the knowledge in a given context. The results show that one’s theoretical orientations have profound influence both on designing and delivering an SLA course and on learning and understanding SLA knowledge. These orientations, in turn, determine, to a great extent, the degree of impact SLA has in a given context. More case studies need to be conducted to understand the relevance of SLA knowledge through (1) investigating different processes of learning and understanding, (2) comparing and contrasting teacher-learners and instructors with diverse theoretical orientations, and the various combinations of (mis)matches, and (3) documenting different impacts of different processes and theoretical orientations in different contexts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Babcock, S. P. (1993). The significance of cultural influence within the ESL/EFL classroom: A Taiwan experience. Paper presented at the International Conference on Language Teacher Education, Hong Kong. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 375 681)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, F. (1996). The role of collaborative dialogue in teacher education. In D. Freeman & J. C. Richards (Eds.), Teacher Learning in Language Teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bardovi-Harlig, K. (1997). The place of second language acquisition theory in language teacher preparation. In K. Bardovi-Harlig & B. Hartford (Eds.), Beyond Methods: Components of Second Language Teacher Education. New York: McCraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartels, N. (2002). Professional preparation and action research: Only for language teachers? TESOI, Quarterly, 36(1), 71–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bley-Vroman, R. (1989). What is the logical problem of foreign language learning? In S. Gass & J. Schachter (Eds.), Linguistic Perspective on Second Language Acquisition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogdan, R., & Biklen, S. (1992). Qualitative Research jar Education. Needham, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnaby, B., & Sun, Y. (1989). Chinese teachers’ views of Western language teaching: Context informs paradigms. TESOL Quarterly, 23, 219–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carver, D. (1988). Appropriate methodology for INSET in ELT. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Association for Teachers of English as a Foreign Language, Edinburgh, Scotland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, M. A. (1994). The dysfunctions of the theory/practice discourse. TESOL Quarterly, 28(1), 9–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • England, L., & Roberts, C. (1989). A survey of foreign students in MA-TESOL programs. Paper presented at the Annual TESOL Convention, San Antonio, Texas, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, D. (1989). Teacher training, development, and decision making: A model of teaching and related strategies for language teacher education. TESOL Quarterly, 23(1), 27–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, D. & Johnson, K. E. (1998). Reconceptualizing the knowledge-base of language teacher education. TESOL Quarterly, 32(3), 397–417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glaser, B., & Strauss, A. L. (1967). The Discovery of Grounded Theory. Chicago: Aldine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golombek, P. R. (1998). A study of language teachers’ personal practical knowledge. TESOL Quarterly, 32(3), 447–464.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta, R., & Saravanan, V. (1995). Old beliefs impede student teacher learning of reading instruction. Journal of Education jar Teaching, 21, 347–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heiman, J. D. (1994). Western culture in EFL language instruction. TESOL Journal, 4(1), 4–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, K. (1996). The role of theory in L2 teacher education. TESOL Quarterly, 30(4), 765–771.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, B. (1994). Teacher education and the MA in ESL: The students’ perspective. In D.C.S. Li, D. Mahoney, & J. C. Richards (Eds.), Exploring Second Language Teacher Development. Hong Kong: City Polytechnic of Hong Kong.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kagan, D. M. (1993). Laura and Jim and What They Taught Me about the Gap between Educational Theory and Practice. New York: State University of New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamhi-Stein, L. D. (2000) Adapting U.S.-based TESOL education to meet the needs of nonnative English speakers. TESOL Journal, 9(1), 10–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerekes, J. (2001). How can SLA theories and SLA researchers contribute to teachers’ practices? In B. Johnston & S. Irujo (Eds.), Research and Practice in Language Education: Voices from the Field. Minneapolis, MN: Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubota, R. (1998). Voices from the margin: Second and foreign language teaching approaches from minority perspectives. The Canadian Modern Language Review, 54, 394–412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, D. (1998). It’s always more difficult than you plan and imagine: Teachers’ perceived difficulties in introducing the communicative approach in South Korea, TESOL Quarterly, 32(4), 677–703.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lightfoot D. (1982). The Central Problem. Cambridge, MA: MIT press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lo, Y. G. (2001a). What do they need from MA TESOL programs: A case study of four non-native EFL teachers. Paper presented at the annual the Annual TESOL Convention, St. Louis, MO, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lo, Y. G. (2001b). From Western language teacher education programs to Eastern EFL classrooms. Paper presented at the Annual TESOL Convention, St. Louis, MO, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lo, Y. G. (2003). “It’s like two different worlds ”: A journey from learning to teach in the United States to teaching to learn in Taiwan. Unpublished dissertation, Indiana University. Bloomington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, D. (1999). Training non-native TESOL students: Challenges for TESOL teacher education in the West. In G. Braine (Ed.), Non-Native Educators in English Language Teaching. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum

    Google Scholar 

  • Polio, C. (1994) International students in North American MA TESOL programs. Paper presented at the Annual TESOL Convention, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards, J. C. (1998) Beyond Training: Perspectives on Language Teacher Education. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richert, A. E. (1991) Case methods and teacher education: Using cases to teach teacher reflection. In B. R. Tabachnick & K. M. Zeichner (Eds.), Issues and Practices in Inquiry-Oriented Teacher Education. London: Falmer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulman, L. S. (2000) Teacher development: Roles of domain expertise and pedagogical knowledge. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 21, 129–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, L. (1989) Universal Grammar and Second Language Acquisition. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods, D. (1996) Teacher Cognition in Language Teaching. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Nat Bartels

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2005 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gloria Lo, YH. (2005). Relevance of Knowledge of Second Language Acquisition. In: Bartels, N. (eds) Applied Linguistics and Language Teacher Education. Educational Linguistics, vol 4. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-2954-3_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics