6th Edition

Second Language Learning and Language Teaching

By Vivian Cook, Dick Smakman Copyright 2025
376 Pages 29 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

376 Pages 29 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

376 Pages 29 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

A classic introduction to second language acquisition and its application to language teaching, the sixth edition of Second Language Learning and Language Teaching has been extensively revised to reflect the evolving realities of multilingual classrooms and global communication. Drawing on the latest research, it offers clear explanations of key theoretical concepts alongside practical insights... Read more

Preface

Notes on the Text

Part I. BACKGROUND

          1. Learning and Teaching Language

          2. Second Language Acquisition Research

Part II. LEARNING A SECOND LANGUAGE

          3. The Changing Classroom

          4. Individual Learner Differences

          5. Strategies for Communicating and Learning

          6. Models of Second Language Learning

Part III. TEACHING A SECOND LANGUAGE

          7. The Learner and the Native Speaker

          8. The Goals of Language Teaching

          9. Second Language Pedagogy

Part IV. LEARNING AND TEACHING SECOND LANGUAGE SKILLS

          10. Writing

          11. Grammar

          12. Vocabulary

          13. Pronunciation

References

Glossary

Index

Biography

Vivian Cook was Professor of Applied Linguistics at Newcastle University, UK. His main interests were how people learn second languages and how writing works in different languages, particularly in street signs. He was a founder of the European Second Language Association and co-founder and co-editor of the journal Writing System Research.

Dick Smakman is Lecturer in Sociolinguistics and Second Language Teaching at Leiden University, the Netherlands. In his teaching and research, he combines the two fields. He has taught English and Dutch at various universities.

 If ever there were a timely book, this is it. Today, with new technologies transforming the field, we teach and study languages amid deep uncertainty. Our only hope of keeping up is to continue questioning the very nature of multilingualism and the impact language learning has on culturally diverse individuals around the world.

Kapitolina Fedorova, Full Professor of Russian Studies, University of Tallinn, Estonia

 

The sixth edition of Second Language Learning and Language Teaching offers a comprehensive and accessible overview of key theories and practices in second language acquisition. Authored by renowned scholars Vivian Cook and Dick Smakman, the book bridges the gap between research and classroom application, making it an essential resource for language teachers and students alike. It includes up-to-date insights into contemporary issues in language learning. I plan to actively use this book in my own classes when engaging students in discussions about second language teaching. Its content aligns perfectly with my approach of combining theoretical foundations with the development of practical teaching skills in the field of second language education.

Giuli Shabashvili, Associate Professor of Linguistics, Tbilisi State University, Georgia