Q34181 Second Language Acquisition, 2015/16

Reading List

Primary Text:

Finding a single text which covers all these areas adequately is difficult. In the past, I have
used a number of different texts, none of which were fully satisfactory by themselves.
However, there is now a new treatment of SLA by Rod Ellis called:
nd
Ellis, R. (2015, 2 ed.). Understanding Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
nd
This is the 2 edition of the SLA book I was taught with when I did my MA in ELT back in the 1990s with Rod
Ellis. It was the standard text for many years, and affectionately known as the Back Bible. It eventually
became dated, but this new updated version has again become the best teaching textbook available in SLA.

Supplementary Texts:
Ortega, L. (2009). Understanding Second Language Acquisition. London: Hodder.

Since Lourdes Ortega is a friend of mine, I piloted a few of her chapters with my MA students while
she was writing it. The response was very positive, and I think that she has explained the
complicated aspects of SLA in as accessible and practical way as is possible. This is the text I used for several
years before switching to the Ellis book this year. Past SLA students have generally liked it, and so
I hope you will find it useful as well.

Ellis, R. (2008, 2nd ed.). The Study of Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.

This is certainly the most comprehensive book on SLA. However, it is 1,142 pages long and
so I didnt think you would want to use it as the main textbook! But it will be a very useful
reference source to refer to for particular issues you wish to know more about, especially
when you write your assignment.

Doughty, C.J. and Long, M.H. (eds.) The Handbook of Second Language Acquisition.
(2003). Malden, MA: Blackwell.

Doughty and Longs The Handbook of Second Language Acquisition is another very long and
detailed book (888 pages), and should be seen as the other in-depth advanced treatment,
along with Ellis.

Lightbown, P.M. and Spada, N. (2006 3rd ed.). How Languages are Learned. Oxford: Oxford University
Press.

If you are getting a bit lost, the most accessible entry into to SLA is Lightbown and Spadas
book. It is a great way to get your ideas together about how SLA research relates to the
real-world issues of teaching. I will be using several activities from this book through the
semester.

Brown, H.D. (2007, 5th ed.). Principles of Language Learning

and Teaching. Harlow: Longman.

Another fairly accessible treatment of SLA, with a pedagogical focus.

Mitchell, R. and Myles, F. (2004, 2nd ed.). Second Language Learning Theories. London: Arnold.

This book gives good overviews of the different theories of SLA.

Saville-Troike, M. (2006). Introducing Second Language Acquisition. Cambridge:

Cambridge University Press.

Another recent SLA overview.