The Routledge Handbook of Sociocultural Theory and Second Language Development

The Routledge Handbook of Sociocultural Theory and Second Language Development is the first comprehensive overview of the field of Sociocultural Second Language Acquisition (SLA). In 34 chapters, each written by an expert in the area, this book offers perspectives on both the theoretical and practical sides of the field. This handbook covers a broad range of topics, divided into several major sections including:

• concepts and principles as related to second language development;
• concept-based instruction;
• dynamic assessment and other assessment based on sociocultural theory (SCT);
• literacy and content-based language teaching;
• bilingual/multilingual education;
• SCT and technology;
• and teacher education.

This is the ideal resource for graduate students and researchers working in the areas of SLA and second language development.

James P. Lantolf is the Greer Professor in Language Acquisition and Applied Linguistics at The Pennsylvania State University, USA. He is Director of the Center for Language Acquisition and was co-editor of Applied Linguistics and founding editor of Language and Sociocultural Theory. He is Changjiang Scholar in Applied Linguistics in the School of Foreign Studies at Xi’an JiaoTong University, China. His research focuses on sociocultural theory and classroom second language development.

Matthew E. Poehner is Associate Professor of World Languages Education and Applied Linguistics at The Pennsylvania State University, USA. His research examines Sociocultural Theory and its use as a basis for L2 education through frameworks such as Dynamic Assessment and Mediated Development. He is currently associate editor of the journal Language and Sociocultural Theory.

Merrill Swain is Professor Emerita at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto, Canada. She has published extensively on second language learning, teaching and testing. Her most recent interests include languaging and the inseparability of cognition and emotion. She was President of AAAL and Vice President of AILA, and received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of VAASA in Finland.