Understanding Second Language Acquisition


Book Description

Whether we grow up with one, two, or several languages during our early years of life, many of us will learn a second, foreign, or heritage language in later years. The field of Second language acquisition (SLA, for short) investigates the human capacity to learn additional languages in late childhood, adolescence, or adulthood, after the first language --in the case of monolinguals-- or languages --in the case of bilinguals-- have already been acquired. Understanding Second Language Acquisition offers a wide-encompassing survey of this burgeoning field, its accumulated findings and proposed theories, its developed research paradigms, and its pending questions for the future. The book zooms in and out of universal, individual, and social forces, in each case evaluating the research findings that have been generated across diverse naturalistic and formal contexts for second language acquisition. It assumes no background in SLA and provides helpful chapter-by-chapter summaries and suggestions for further reading. Ideal as a textbook for students of applied linguistics, foreign language education, TESOL, and education, it is also recommended for students of linguistics, developmental psycholinguistics, psychology, and cognitive science. Supporting resources for tutors are available free at www.routledge.com/ortega.




Exploring America


Book Description







101 Conversations in Simple English


Book Description

Improve your spoken English from home with 101 real-world conversations in simple, everyday English. Real English people don't speak like your textbook... so it's no wonder you feel unprepared when it's your turn to speak! This book fixes that. For the first time, you'll learn to speak English in the REAL world, with 101 authentic conversations in simple, spoken English, so you can become confident in the words, phrases and expressions you need to communicate like a local. You'll be transported into a real-world story that unfolds between six characters, told by the people themselves in 101 authentic conversations. Over 15,000 words of real English, you'll immerse yourself in a gripping drama and get an education in natural English in the process. Here's what you'll get: 101 conversations in simple English, so you can learn real English as spoken in the street, understand spoken language with ease, and have English roll off your tongue more fluently With over 15,000 words of dialogue, you'll have an exciting resource that will immerse you in English, at a level you can understand, so you can learn real spoken English without getting lost or overwhelmed Real, daily spoken English throughout - it's as if we held up a microphone and recorded the exact words coming out of people's mouths - so you can learn the expressions that real people use on the street (not in textbooks). You'll sound more authentic when you speak and make English-speaking friends more easily. Situational dialogues from typical daily circumstances, so you'll prepare yourself to survive realistic English encounters, in shops and cafés, and make meeting people and making arrangements second nature Conversations that are carefully written to be accessible for beginners (A2-B1 on the CEFR), so you can start to learn from real, spoken conversations, even as a beginner, without having to go through the rollercoaster of difficult conversations with strangers Each conversation is limited to around 15 lines of dialogue (150 words), so you can get that crucial sense of achievement and motivation when you finish each conversation, and say "I actually understood all of that!" Summaries of each conversation which contextualise each dialogue, so you can easily follow the plot and enjoy the story without getting lost The story is set in London, England and includes some expressions that are typical in British English. However, the conversations use mostly "neutral" English that will help you if you're learning American English, or any other variety of English too! Created by Olly Richards, internationally-renowned language teacher and author, 101 Conversations in Real Spoken English gives you an education in real English that you won't find anywhere else. You'll be better prepared for using English in the real world, speak with more confidence, and take a giant leap towards fluency in English! SCROLL UP AND GRAB YOUR COPY NOW




McGraw-Hill's Conversational American English


Book Description

Learnmore than 3,000 English expressions and speak and understand the language easily As a new speaker of English, you may hear some expressions in your daily conversations that you do not understand--yet. McGraw-Hill's Conversational American English will help you learn these expressions, so not only do you know what a person is saying to you, but that you can use the expression yourself! More than 3,000 expressions are organized by theme, so you can find what you are looking for quickly. And each topic is illustrated to further help you understand context. The book features: Common expressions are batched into 350 themes, ranging from general greetings and asking how someone is, to the more specific needs, like showing disbelief, asking someone’s intentions, and expressions for a forgotten word or name A comprehensive thematic glossary provides an additional means for the learner to locate expressions by key words and concepts Topics include: Basic Social Encounters, Greetings, Small Talk, Introductions, Ending a Conversation, Good-Byes, Agreeing, Disagreeing Conversational Encounters, Focusing Attention, Launching the Conversation, Making Friends, Complex Matters, Disputes, Discussion and Resolution, Polite Encounters, Prefaces, Communication Barriers




Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics


Book Description

This innovative ESL/EFL textbook helps advanced English language learners develop conversation skills and improve fluency by sharing experiences, reflecting on their lives, and discussing proverbs and quotations. The oral skills English textbook includes 45 thematic chapters, over 1,350 questions, 500 vocabulary words, 250 proverbs and American idioms, and 500 quotations. Designed for both adult education and intensive English language students, the conversations and activities deepen critical thinking skills and develop speaking skills essential to success in community college and university programs. Compelling Conversations has been used in classrooms in over 40 countries, recommended by English Teaching Professional magazine, adopted by conversation clubs and private English tutors, and enjoyed by thousands of English students.




Compelling American Conversations


Book Description

Compelling American Conversations: Questions and Quotations for Intermediate American English Language Learners from Chimayo Press helps American immigrants and international students develop their fluency skills and academic vocabulary through conversation exercises. Each chapter includes two sets of conversation questions, vocabulary review, short writing exercises, paraphrasing exercises with proverbs, a discussion activity around pithy quotations, and an online "Search and Share" activity. Focusing on both daily experiences and American culture through proverbs, quotations, and speaking exercises, the materials help intermediate English language learners explore their lives, learn common American sayings and expressions, and develop vital discussion skills. The 15 topical chapters include: Opening Moves; Going Beyond Hello; Making and Breaking Habits; Studying English; Being Yourself; Choosing and Keeping Friends; Playing and Watching Sports; Talking About American Television; Celebrating American Holidays; Being Stylish; Handling Stress; Practicing Job Interviews; Valuing Money and Finding Bargains; Exploring American Cities and Seeing Our World With Photographs. The "Resources and Notes" appendix includes the academic word list, supplemental worksheets, bibliographical references, author biographies and indices to proverbs and quotations. Designed primarily for community college ESL and adult education students, this flexible ESL textbook can be used by high school English language learners (ELL) and intensive English programs. Compelling American Conversations, is the third title in the Compelling Conversations series, most known for the original fluency-focused advanced ESL textbook, Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics (2006).




101 Conversations in Intermediate English


Book Description

*** New Intermediate Edition! *** Improve your spoken English from home with 101 real-world conversations in intermediate English. Real English people don't speak like your textbook... so it's no wonder you feel unprepared when it's your turn to speak! This book fixes that. For the first time, you'll learn to move beyond beginner level, and speak English in the real world! With 101 authentic conversations in intermediate English, so you'll become confident in the words, phrases and expressions you need to communicate like a local. 101 Conversations in Intermediate English transports you into a real-world story that unfolds between six English characters, told by the people themselves. Over 15,000 words of real English, you'll immerse yourself in a gripping English drama and get an education in natural English in the process. Here's what you'll get: 101 conversations in intermediate English, so you can learn the real English spoken in the street, understand spoken English with ease, and have English roll off your tongue more fluently Over 15,000 words of dialogue - an unparalleled resource that will immerse you in English, at a level you can understand. You'll learn real spoken English without getting lost or overwhelmed Real, daily spoken English throughout - it's as if we held up a microphone and recorded the exact words coming out of people's mouths - so you can learn the expressions that real people use on the street (not in textbooks). You'll sound more authentic when you speak and make English-speaking friends more easily. Situational dialogues from typical daily circumstances, so you can prepare yourself to survive realistic English encounters, in shops, cafés, and on the street, making meeting people second nature Conversations that are carefully written to be accessible for intermediate learners (B1-B2 on the CEFR), so you can learn from real, spoken conversations, without having to go through the rollercoaster of difficult conversations with strangers Each conversation is limited to around 15 lines of dialogue (150 words), so you can get that crucial sense of achievement and motivation when you finish each conversation, and say "I actually understood all of that!" Summaries of each conversation which contextualise each dialogue, so you can easily follow the plot and enjoy the story without getting lost The story is set in England and includes expressions that are typical in British English. However, since the conversations use mostly "neutral" English, you'll have plenty to learn, whether you're learning the English of America, England, or Australia. Created by Olly Richards, internationally-renowned language teacher and author, 101 Conversations in Intermediate English gives you an experience in real English that you won't find anywhere else. You'll be better prepared for using English in the real world, speak with more confidence, and take a giant leap towards fluency in English! SCROLL UP AND GRAB YOUR COPY NOW




Is That a Fish in Your Ear?


Book Description

A New York Times Notable Book for 2011 One of The Economist's 2011 Books of the Year People speak different languages, and always have. The Ancient Greeks took no notice of anything unless it was said in Greek; the Romans made everyone speak Latin; and in India, people learned their neighbors' languages—as did many ordinary Europeans in times past (Christopher Columbus knew Italian, Portuguese, and Castilian Spanish as well as the classical languages). But today, we all use translation to cope with the diversity of languages. Without translation there would be no world news, not much of a reading list in any subject at college, no repair manuals for cars or planes; we wouldn't even be able to put together flat-pack furniture. Is That a Fish in Your Ear? ranges across the whole of human experience, from foreign films to philosophy, to show why translation is at the heart of what we do and who we are. Among many other things, David Bellos asks: What's the difference between translating unprepared natural speech and translating Madame Bovary? How do you translate a joke? What's the difference between a native tongue and a learned one? Can you translate between any pair of languages, or only between some? What really goes on when world leaders speak at the UN? Can machines ever replace human translators, and if not, why? But the biggest question Bellos asks is this: How do we ever really know that we've understood what anybody else says—in our own language or in another? Surprising, witty, and written with great joie de vivre, this book is all about how we comprehend other people and shows us how, ultimately, translation is another name for the human condition.