While We're On the Topic: BVP on Language, Acquisition, and Classroom Practice

Bill VanPatten

• Publisher: ACTFL
• Year: 2017
• eBook ISBN:
  9781942544586
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Teaching Arts & Humanities

While We're On the Topic: BVP on Language, Acquisition, and Classroom Practice is from one of the leading figures in the field of second language acquisition and second language teaching, While We're on the Topic... offers an up-to-date overview of six principles underlying contemporary communicative language teaching. In a conversational style, Bill VanPatten addresses principles related to the nature of communication, the nature of language, how language is acquired, the roles of input and interaction, tasks and activities, and focus on form ("grammar"). Each principle is informed by decades of research yet all are presented in a manner accessible to veteran and novice educators alike.

This book is a must read for all interested in 21st century language teaching. With special features such as Foundational Readings, Discussion Questions and Food for Thought, "I..." statements for self-assessment, and While We're on the Topic reflection boxes that invite the reader to ponder related topics, this book can easily be used as the foundation for any course on contemporary language teaching.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Acknowledgments
• Table of Contents
• Prologue
• Wait! Before You Begin Reading…
• CLT PRINCIPLE 1: Teaching Communicatively Implies a Definition of communication
• CLT PRINCIPLE 2: Language is Too Abstract and Complex to Teach and Learn Explicitly
• CLT PRINCIPLE 3: Language Acquisition is Constrained by Internal and External Factors
• CLT PRINCIPLE 4: Instructors and Materials Should Provide Appropriate Level Input (and Interaction)
• CLT PRINCIPLE 5: Tasks Should Form the Backbone of the Communicative Curriculum
• CLT PRINCIPLE 6: Any Focus on Form Should be Input-Oriented and Meaning-Based
• Wait! Before You Read the Epilogue…
• Epilogue
• About the Author