Identifying key debates in second language teaching and learning / Robert Woore and Ernesto Macaro -- Learning English and learning languages other than English in Asia and Europe : current scenarios and debates / Bruna Di Sabato and Andy Kirkpatrick -- Is there a best age for second language learning? Evidence from across the lifespan / Simone Pfenninger and David Singleton -- Multilingual learners, linguistic pluralism and implications for education and research / Hamish Chalmers and Victoria Murphy -- Learning language by studying content / David Lasagabaster -- Aptitude or motivation : which is the better predictor of successful language learning? / Suzanne Graham -- Key issues in pre-service language teacher education / Laura Molway -- Systemic in-service language teacher education / Simon Borg -- Implicit versus explicit grammar learning and teaching / Mirosław Pawlak -- Vocabulary learning in theory and practice : implicit and explicit mechanisms / Ron Martinez -- The L2-only versus the multilingual debate / Ernesto Macaro -- Teaching phonics in a second language / Robert Woore. -- What kind of pronunciation learning should teachers expect of their learners? / Sara Kennedy and Pavel Trofimovich -- Teaching the language or teaching the process / Peter Yongqi Gu -- Reflections / Ernesto Macaro and Robert Woore.

"Debates in Second Language Education provides an up-to-date account of the key debates and areas of controversy in the field of second language learning and teaching. Adopting a broad and comparative perspective and emphasising the importance of considering a variety of learning contexts, it encourages student and practising teachers to engage with contemporary issues and developments in learning and teaching. Chapters are designed to stimulate thinking and understanding in relation to theory and practice, and help language educators to make informed judgements by arguing from a position based on theoretical knowledge and understanding. Bringing together leading contributors in the field, the book discusses a wide range of issues relating to second language learning and teaching including: the relationship between age and success in language learning aptitude versus motivation as predictors of successful language learning linguistic diversity and plurilingualism the teaching of grammar and vocabulary the value of phonics learning pronunciation the second language only versus the multilingual debate With reflective points in every chapter, Debates in Second Language Education will be a valuable resource for any student or practising teacher, and those engaged in initial teacher education, continuing professional development or Master's level study. It will also be of interest to second language acquisition researchers and those studying applied linguistics"--