Grammar Acquisition and Processing Instruction

Secondary and Cumulative Effects

By (author) Dr. Alessandro Benati, Prof. James F. Lee

Publication date:

03 October 2008

Publisher

Multilingual Matters

Dimensions:

234x156mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9781847691040

Research on Processing Instruction has so far investigated the primary effects of Processing Instruction. In this book the results of a series of experimental studies investigating possible secondary and cumulative effects of Processing Instruction on the acquisition of French, Italian and English as a second language will be presented. The results of the three experiments have demonstrated that Processing Instruction not only provides learners the direct or primary benefit of learning to process and produce the morphological form on which they received instruction, but also a secondary benefit in that they transferred that training to processing and producing another morphological form on which they had received no instruction.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1 A Theory of Input Processing: How Learners Work with Input

2 Processing Instruction: Research and Practice in Assessing Primary Effects

3 From Processing Instruction on the Acquisition of Italian Noun-Adjective Agreement to Secondary Transfer-of-Training Effects on Italian Future Tense Verb Morphology

4 From Processing Instruction on the Acquisition of English Past Tense to Secondary Transfer-of-Training Effects on English Third Person Singular Present Tense (with Scott Dean Houghton)

5 From Processing Instruction on the Acquisition of French Imparfait to Secondary Transfer-of-Training Effects on French Subjunctive and to Cumulative Transfer-of-Training Effects with French Causative Constructions (with Cecile Laval)

Chapter 6: Final Comments

Appendix (Sample Materials)

References

Index

Will learners who receive training on one type of processing strategy for one specific form appropriately transfer the use of that strategy to other forms without further instruction in PI? Benati and Lee take research on Processing Instruction to new heights by examining secondary and cumulative effects of PI and structured input activities. The book provides a thorough review of input processing theory and empirical research on PI before launching into new and unique research that examines transfer-of-training effects. Benati and Lee present innovative directions for research on input processing making this volume a most valuable contribution to SLA scholars and graduate students.