Advanced Language Learning: The Contribution of Halliday and Vygotsky

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'The editor and authors in this volume make a convincing case for focusing on advanced foreign language instruction. Importantly, they invite consideration of this focus as an opportunity to re-examine conventional definitions of the target of instruction. In so doing, readers also learn more about the theories highlighted in this volume, and their capacity to enhance our understanding ofadvancedness and its development within an educational context. This book thus mediates between linguistic and language learning theories and educational practice, modelling the very best of what applied linguistics has to offer.' Diane Larsen-Freeman, Professor of Education, University of Michigan. The reality of multicultural societies and globalization has increased the demand for language abilities that far exceed those that have typically been associated with communicative competence in a second language. This book examines the acquisition of advanced levels of ability in three parts: theoretical; descriptive; and instructional. It moves beyond the traditional constraints of second language acquisition research by linking systemic functional linguistics and sociocultural theory. The contributors draw primarily on the work of Halliday, Vygotsky and Bakhtin, as well as empirical data from the language classroom, to suggest practical applications towards advanced literacy and linguistic competence.

Advanced Language Learning will be of interest to academics researching systemic functional linguistics, second language acquisition and applied linguistics.

Reviews

With this edited volume, Byrnes has added one more publication to the growing body of literature (of her authorship and that of others) on advanced language learning (ALL). In this collection, the notion of advancedness in language learning and instruction is explored through a very special lens: the illuminating potential of Halliday's systemic functional linguistics (SFL) and Vygotskyan sociocultural theory (SCT)...This is an excellent volume. The chapters are all well written and rich in stimulating ideas. The book balances adequately the theoretical with the practical, offering support for a new approach to L2 classrooms that truly places meaning at the center of instruction and makes ALL both a possible and desirable goal...serves wonderfully as a point of departure for exploration of aspects of meaning, context, and use in advanced language teaching and learning from an integrated SFL and SCT perspective. -- Mara C. M. De Guerreo * Modern Language Journal *

Author Bio

Heidi Byrnes is Professor of German at Georgetown University.