This chapter presents an overview of studies that have dealt with the role of instruction, and more particularly, its possible effect on altering the route of second language acquisition (SLA). In SLA, some have argued that the effects of instruction are limited, in that instruction will promote acquisition only if it occurs at a time when a learner is ‘ready’ for the forms instructed. One formalisation of this idea of learner readiness is Pienemann’s (1984) teachability hypothesis. The present timeline will discuss studies preceding the formulation of the teachability hypothesis as well as subsequent studies that confirm, adjust, challenge or refute it. The aim is to give a historical overview of findings relating to this research question, which remains significant and relevant today.
Dallaway, M.1994. The teachability hypothesis and the language learning classroom. Working Papers in Language Education 2: 15–20.
Doughty, C. & Williams, J. (eds). 1998. Focus on Form in Second Language Acquisition. Cambridge: CUP.
Ellis, N.2011. Implicit and explicit knowledge and their interfaces. In Implicit and Explicit Language Learning. Conditions, Processes, and Knowledge in SLA and Bilingualism, C. Sanz & R. P. Leow (eds), 35–47. Washington DC: Georgetown University Press.
Ellis, R.1994. The Study of Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: OUP.
Jansen, L.2008. Acquisition of German word order in tutored learners: A cross-sectional study in a wider theoretical context. Language Learning 58: 185–231.
Keenan, E. & Comrie, B.1977. Noun phrase accessibility and universal grammar. Linguistic Inquiry 8: 63–100.
Kennedy, S. & Trovimovich, P.2016. Research timeline: Second language communication strategies. Language Teaching 49: 494–512.
Keßler, J.-U.2006. Englischerwerb im Anfangsunterricht diagnostizieren. Linguistische Profilanalysen am Übergang von der Primarstufe in die Sekundarstufe I. Tübingen: Narr
Keßler, J.-U.2007. Assessing EFL-development online: A feasibility study of Rapid Profile. In Second Language Acquisition Research. Theory-construction and Testing, F. Mansouri (ed.), 119–143. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars.
Keßler, J.-U.2008. Communicative tasks and second language profiling: Linguistic and pedagogical implications. In Research on Task-based Language Learning and Teaching. Theoretical, Methodological and Pedagogical Perspectives, J. Eckerth & S. Siepmann (eds), 291–310. Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
Keßler, J.-U. & Liebner, M.2011. Diagnosing L2 development. In Studying Processability Theory: An Introductory Textbook, [Processability Approaches to Language Acquisition Research & Teaching 1], M. Pienemann & J.-U. Keßler (eds), 133–148. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Levelt, W.1989. Speaking. From Intention to Articulation. Cambridge MA: The MIT Press.
Lightbown, P.1998. The importance of timing in Focus on Form. In Focus on Form in Classroom Second Language Acquisition, C. Doughty & J. Williams (eds), 177–196. Cambridge: CUP.
Loewen, S.2014Introduction to Instructed Second Language Acquisition. New York: Routledge
Mackey, A., Pienemann, M. & Thornton, I.1991. Rapid Profile: A second language screening procedure. Language and language education. Working Papers of the National Languages Institute of Australia 1: 61–82.
McLaughlin, B.1987. Theories of Second Language Learning. London: Edward Arnold.
Meisel, J.2013. Development in second language acquisition. In Routledge Encyclopaedia of SLA, P. Robinson (ed.), 165–173. London: Routledge.
Nassaji, H.2016. Research timeline: Form-focused instruction and second language acquisition. Language Teaching 49: 35–62.
Ortega, L.2009. Understanding Second Language Acquisition. London: Hodder Education.
Pallotti, G.2007. An operational definition of the emergence criterion. Applied Linguistics 28: 361–382.
Pica, T.2007. Time, teachers, and tasks in focus on form instruction. In Form-focused Instruction and Teacher Education, S. Fotos & H. Nassaji (eds), 161–176. Oxford: OUP.
Pienemann, M.1984. Psychological constraints on the teachability of languages. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 6: 186–214.
Pienemann, M.1992. Assessing Second Language Acquisition Through Rapid Profile. Ms, Sydney.
Pienemann, M. & Keßler, J.-U.2012. Processability Theory. In Handbook of Second Language Acquisition, S. Gass & A. Mackey (eds), 228–246. New York NY: Routledge.
Pienemann, M.2015. An outline of Processability Theory and its relationship to other approaches to SLA. Language Learning 65: 123–151.
Schumann, J. H.1978. The Pidginization Process: A Model for Second Language Acquisition. Rowley MA: Newbury House.
Selinker, L.1972. Interlanguage. International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching 10: 209–231.
Spada, N. & Lightbown, P.2013. Instructed second language acquisition. In Routledge Encyclopaedia of SLA, P. Robinson (ed.), 319–327. London: Routledge.
Williams, J. & Evans, J.1998. What kind of focus and on which forms? In Focus on Form in Classroom Second Language Acquisition, C. Doughty & J. Williams (eds), 139–155. Cambridge: CUP.
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2024. Implicit agent se-constructions. Revista Española de Lingüística Aplicada/Spanish Journal of Applied Linguistics 37:2 ► pp. 628 ff.
Di Biase, Bruno
2022. Processability approaches to second language instruction. Instructed Second Language Acquisition
Keßler, Jörg-U
2022. Teaching processability theory in foreign language teacher education. Instructed Second Language Acquisition
Keßler, Jörg‐U. & Anke Lenzing
2022. Grammar in Foreign and Second Language Classes. In The TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching, ► pp. 1 ff.
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 27 july 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers.
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