From one of the leading figures in the field of second language acquisition and second language teaching, "While We're on the Topic..." offers an up-to-date overview of six principles underlying contemporary communicative language teaching. In a conversational style, Bill VanPatten addresses principles related to the nature of…

Literature concerning human information processing is examined for its implications and extensions into the realm of input processing during second language learning. It is argued that learners can process input solely for meaning, and that once meaning can be accessed automatically, attention can be directed to certain "non-important" structures…

The nature of grammar instruction is examined, and traditional instruction as explanation plus "output" practice is questioned. It is suggested that an input-oriented approach would be more effective. A type of input-based instruction called "processing instruction" is outlined. (Contains 30 references.) (Author/LB)

This book is intended for graduate teaching assistants and undergraduate teacher education majors who might benefit from a directed exploration, reflection, and application of particular topics related to communicative language teaching and for practicing teachers who need a resource manual for developing tasks and materials for their classrooms.…

Analysis of the term "communicative" as used by scholars and realized in textbooks suggests a gap between theory and practice and substantial differences between the perspectives held by scholars and those held by instructors, publishers, and others. Differences are reviewed and their sources traced to attempts to adapt the term itself to existing…