MACMILLAN Comprehension Strategies in the Acquiring of a Second Language

This book provides a critical analysis and account of the development of the Comprehension Approach as a method for language learning. The author draws on interrelated sub-fields - including linguistic theory, child language acquisition, and educational technology - to examine how a comprehension-based strategy could have pedagogical potential for adult second language learning. While second language pedagogy has to date been dominated by production models, this book takes another look at the Comprehension Approach as a possible alternative, presenting results from both child first language and adult second language contexts. It will be of interest to psycholinguistics and applied linguistics scholars, particularly those with an interest in second language teaching and learning.  Review “Harris Winitz’s book will definitely appeal to all scholars and students interested in comprehension-based approaches to second language learning and teaching. It discusses these approaches from a much broader perspective than any other book I am aware of. The essential originality of the book lies in the way in which Harris Winitz discusses the implications of findings obtained in child language research for second language teaching.” -- Thorsten Piske, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany From the Back Cover This book provides a critical analysis and account of the development of the Comprehension Approach as a method for language learning. The author draws on interrelated sub-fields - including linguistic theory, child language acquisition, and educational technology - to examine how a comprehension-based strategy could have pedagogical potential for adult second language learning. While second language pedagogy has to date been dominated by production models, this book takes another look at the Comprehension Approach as a possible alternative, presenting results from both child first language and adult second language contexts. It will be of interest to psycholinguistics and applied linguistics scholars, particularly those with an interest in second language teaching and learning.  Harris Winitz is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Missouri - Kansas City, USA.  About the Author Harris Winitz is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Missouri - Kansas City, USA.