Learning and Teaching a Second Language

Learning and Teaching a Second Language: A Pragmatic Perspective provides an accessible research-based introduction to second language learning and teaching. Moving away from grammatically driven methodologies toward a linguistically anchored approach, it demonstrates the systematic study of languages through different units of everyday language use.

Written by leading experts in the field, this book provides pragmatics-focused insights into the process of acquiring any language, as well as the complexities and challenges often experienced by learners of a second language. House and Kadar propose a systematic model to describe, interpret and overcome such difficulties, illustrated with real case studies from several second languages such as English, Chinese, Japanese, German and Hungarian. The chapters are clearly structured around practical tasks, encouraging the reader to acquire competence in the field either in a classroom or independently.

Cutting-edge and comprehensive, this is the ideal textbook for students of applied linguistics, pragmatics, intercultural communication, as well as pedagogy and communication studies. It is also an invaluable resource for practitioners and teachers seeking to develop their analytical skills and teaching competence.