How Languages Are Learned (Lightbrown and Spada)

From the back cover: "This book provides a comprehensive and readable introduction to first and second language acquisition. By understanding how languages are learned, teachers will be better able to judge the merits of different teaching methodologies and textbooks, and to make the most of the time they spend with learners. The book presents the main theories of language acquisition, and considers the implications of these for language teaching. It discusses the effects of factors such as intelligence, personality, and age on language learning. The authors present the results of recent research in an accessible way, and discuss the implications for classroom practice.

"Patsy Lightbrown is Professor of Applied Linguistics at Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec. Nina Spada is Associate Professor in the Department of Education in Second Languages, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec."