International Forum
Vol. 19, No. 1
April 2016
Print ISSN : 0119-2000
Online ISSN : 2350-7497
FEATURE
Second Language Acquisition:
A General Overview
Abstract: Second language acquisition (SLA) is known as both the process of learning an additional language and the field where issues pertaining to the teaching and learning of a second language (L2) are discussed (Ellis, 2010; Nunan, 2001). The field of SLA has experienced exponential growth over the past 3 decades. As Ellis (2010) states it rightly, SLA is “now an established discipline” (p.182). This is evident in the growth of SLA research, SLA textbooks, and increase in number of theories, principles, and strategies that are found in the field of SLA. While this tremendous advance has been heavily demonstrated particularly in the United States, growth seems sparing in other countries. In fact, few are higher education institutions that offer Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) programs where SLA courses should normally be offered. Without proper knowledge and understanding of how L2s are taught and learned, it is quite likely that teaching English to non nativespeakers in these non-English speaking countries is negatively affected. This paper synthesizes important topics pertaining to SLA to help TESOL experts with some fundamental understanding.
Keywords: Second language acquisition, ESL, EFL, TESOL, theories, review
Silvana de Biaggi, MAEd-TESOL
Instructor, Middle East University
Beirut, Lebanon
Cinthya Samojluk, MAEd-TESOL
Independent Scholar, Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies
Silang, Philippines
Safary Wa-Mbaleka, EdD, PhD
Editor, International Forum
Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies
Silang, Philippines
