This series is designed to provide a source of reference for both language teachers and teacher trainers. Each title is intended to serve both as a basis for courses and seminars, and as a longer-term reference text for the working teacher's bookshelf.
This is a completely revised and updated edition of this readable introduction to the study of language acquisition. By understanding how languages are learned, teachers will be more able to judge the merits of different teaching methodologies and textbooks, and make the most of the time they spend
with learners. How Languages are Learned provides a clear introduction to the main theories of first and second language acquisition and, with the help of activities and questionnaires, discusses their practical impllications for language teaching.

Patsy Lightbown's profile page

Nina Spada's profile page

Patsy M. Lightbown is Distinguished Professor Emerita at Concordia University in Montreal and Past President of the American Association for Applied Linguistics. Her research focuses on how instruction and feedback affect second-language acquisition in classrooms where the emphasis is on
"communicative" or "content-based" language teaching. The contexts for her work have included elementary schools in Canada and, more recently, dual-language bilingual classes in the U.S. Nina Spada is Professor of Applied Linguistics at the Modern Language Centre, Ontario Institute for Studies in
Education at the University of Toronto, Canada. Her main areas of professional interest are second language acquisition, classroom research in L2 teaching and learning, and English as a Second Language.