Second Language Learning and Language Teaching

by Vivian Cook, Dick Smakman

Overview

A classic introduction to second language acquisition and its application to language teaching, the sixth edition of Second Language Learning and Language Teaching has been extensively revised to reflect the evolving realities of multilingual classrooms and global communication. Drawing on the latest research, it offers clear explanations of key theoretical concepts alongside practical insights for language teaching.

 

Written by leading expert Vivian Cook and sensitively updated by Dick Smakman, the book critically engages with native-speaker models, emphasizing intelligibility, meaningful communication, and the diverse ways in which people learn additional languages. A brand-new chapter on the changing classroom explores current pedagogical challenges and emerging learner profiles, while updated content is organized thematically for greater clarity.

 

Designed for readers with no prior background in second language research, this accessible and comprehensive text is ideal for students of applied linguistics, TESOL, and language education more broadly.

 

Pedagogical features include chapter-end focusing questions, an expanded glossary, and a rich companion website offering additional materials for both students and instructors.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032787275
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/29/2026
Edition description:	6th ed.
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Vivian Cook was Professor of Applied Linguistics at Newcastle University. His main interests were how people learn second languages and how writing works in different languages, particularly in street signs. He was a founder of the European Second Language Association and co-founder and co-editor of the journal Writing System Research.

Dick Smakman is Lecturer of Sociolinguistics and Second Language Teaching at Leiden University. In his teachings and research he combines the two fields. He has taught English and Dutch at various universities.

Table of Contents

Quote

Foreword

 

 

Part A. BACKGROUND

             Highlighting in this Book

          1. Learning and Teaching Language

          2. Second Language Acquisition Research

 

Part B. LEARNING A SECOND LANGUAGE

 

          3. The Changing Classroom

          4. Individual Learner Differences

          5. Strategies for Communicating and Learning

          6. Models of Second Language Learning

 

Part C. TEACHING A SECOND LANGUAGE

 

          7. The Learner and the Native Speaker

          8. The Goals of Language Teaching

          9. Second Language Pedagogy

 

Part D. LEARNING AND TEACHING SECOND LANGUAGE SKILLS

 

          10. Writing

          11. Grammar

          12. Vocabulary

          13. Pronunciation

 

References

Glossary

Index

Editorial Reviews

If ever there were a timely book, this is it. Today, with new technologies transforming the field, we teach and study languages amid deep uncertainty. Our only hope of keeping up is to continue questioning the very nature of multilingualism and the impact language learning has on culturally diverse individuals around the world.

Kapitolina Fedorova, Full Professor of Russian Studies, University of Tallinn, Estonia

 

The sixth edition of Second Language Learning and Language Teaching offers a comprehensive and accessible overview of key theories and practices in second language acquisition. Authored by renowned scholars Vivian Cook and Dick Smakman, the book bridges the gap between research and classroom application, making it an essential resource for language teachers and students alike. It includes up-to-date insights into contemporary issues in language learning. I plan to actively use this book in my own classes when engaging students in discussions about second language teaching. Its content aligns perfectly with my approach of combining theoretical foundations with the development of practical teaching skills in the field of second language education.

Giuli Shabashvili, Associate Professor of Linguistics, Tbilisi State University, Georgia

From the Publisher