Principles of Language Learning and Teaching, Fourth EditionH. Douglas Brown | 2000-03-06 00:00:00 | Pearson ESL | 352 | English as a Foreign Language
How do people learn a second language? For almost two decades, Principles of Language Learning and Teaching has been recognized as an exceptional guide to the theoretical foundations of language teaching. This new fourth edition offers an overview of the study of Second Language Acquisition, while acting as a reference for the growing storehouse of research, subfields, and specialization of SLA.
Reviews I've read this book, and I've taught students French at the University of Santa Barbara, I've taught students English at the University of Bordeaux in France, and I've been teaching students in Korea for four years.
I've also studied 5 languages, and I try to use what I think works for me for my students.
The basic information is fine, but I'm deeply skeptical about whether this guy actually has actually learned and become proficient in foreign languages.
I don't think you can teach a foreign language unless you have learned a foreign language, and at least have tried to learn the foreign language of the students you are teaching.
Unless you're studying Korean, you cannot teach Korean students English properly, because you'll have no idea why they make the mistakes they chronically do.
And, let's be honest: American foreign language teaching has failed epically. Americans don't learn foreign languages. Why should we trust them? Of course ESL is different but it doesn't apply to foreign countries b/c there's enormous motivation for immigrants to learn English.
Reviews I bought this book for my Education class and I am very happy with it. Great price here on amazon. It's very easy to read, comprehensive and interesting!
Reviews Brown's book is an excellent, comprehensive resource for TESOL students. It is professionally written and useful for language teachers.
Reviews Given the heavy-duty subject matter, Brown's "Principles of Language Learning and Teaching" is probably about as good as it gets. It's definitely not a book of general interest, but rather a compendium of the various theories that have influenced and shaped the teaching of second languages in the 20th century. It's slow going, but after a one semester course during which I plowed through and digested the material, I've gained a general understanding of the theory behind the practice. Babyboomers like me who had an unhappy second language experience in school will smile while reading Brown's explanations of the theories of the 50's, 60's and 70's, and why so many of us became discouraged. As a teacher of ESL now, I can only say things have improved a lot. In this new edition, Brown has included a section in the last chapter on current hot topics in the field. But again, this is for professionals or students, not general readers.
Reviews H Douglas Brown, no stranger to the TESOL community, offers scholarly information about issues in teaching English as Second Language. Scholarly language interspersed with plain English from a real person.
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