Advanced Language Learning

The reality of multicultural societies and globalization has increased the demand for language abilities. This book examines the acquisition of advanced levels of ability in three parts: theoretical; descriptive; and instructional. It also links systemic functional linguistics and sociocultural theory.

Introduction; Part I: Theoretical considerations in advanced instructed learning; 1. Educating for advanced foreign language capacities - Christian M I M Matthiessen; 2. Generalised collective dialogue and advanced foreign language capacities - James V. Wertsch; 3. The relevance of languaculture and conceptual knowledge for advanced proficiency - James P. Lantolf; Part II: Description and Instruction; 4. Language, agency and collaboration in advanced second language proficiency - Merrill Swain; 5. The linguistic features of advanced language use - Mary Schleppegrell. 6. The problem of text construction and the advanced language learner - Marianna Ryshina-Pankova; 7. Bilingual heritage speakers acquiring Spanish - Teresa Oteiza; 8. Approaching second language writing instruction - Susan Strauss; 9. Academic French - Alice Caffarel; 10. Meaning-making in Italian - Roberta Piazza; 11. Grammatical metaphor - M. Cecilia Colombi; Part III: Pragmatic and curricular issues; 12. Meeting the challenge of comprehensive curriculum construction - Heidi Byrnes; 13. Genre as a curricular framework for collegiate L2 learning - Cori Crane.; 14. Developing a heritage language speaker track to support L2 acquisition - Sylvia Pessoa; 15. Advanced learning for intermediate learners - N A J Moore.