Steven Brown and Jenifer Larson-Hall: Second Language Acquisition Myths: Applying Second Language Research to Classroom Teaching

Abstract

In this volume, Brown and Larson-Hall offer an approachable introduction to second language acquisition for preservice and inservice teachers, and others interested in how people learn additional languages. As in other volumes of the University of Michigan Press ‘Myths’ series, each of the eight chapters responds to a different ‘myth’ or misunderstanding about the field. The ‘myths’ are common folk-wisdom: children are better language learners; bilingualism means speaking two languages perfectly; drills, reading, and listening alone lead to language acquisition; and more. Chapter 1 centres on questions of age and second language acquisition. The authors briefly survey research surrounding first language (L1) acquisition, and move into childhood second language (L2) acquisition with a review of work by Collier (1989) and Cummins (1979, 1980, 1981a, 1981b). Next, the recent Latter-day Saints (LDS) Missionary studies (Dewey and Clifford 2012) inform the adult L2 acquisition discussion, and provide background for comparing L2 acquisition in childhood vs. adulthood. Finally, the authors review and critique the critical period hypothesis.