This unique book provides a lively introduction to the theory and research surrounding the adult learning of English for Speakers of Other Languages. Offering a digest and discussion of current debates, the book examines a wide geographical and social spread of issues, such as: * how to understand the universal characteristics of learning an additional language* what makes a 'good' language learner* multilingualism and assumptions about monolingualism* learning the written language* the effect of recent Government immigration policy on language learning processes.