Publications

A focus on form approach in language pedagogy: Findings from research in an EFL context

Book Title
Estudios de Filología Inglesa. Homenaje a la Dra. Asunción Alba Pelayo
Editors
M. T. Gilabert Maceda & L. Alba Juez
Year
2008
Pages
145 - 161
DOI
Publisher
UNED
Links

Recent research on second language acquisition has witnessed an increasing number of studies that examine second language acquisition from a cognitive perspective. The underlying assumption of this research is that some level of attention to the formal features of the target language is needed for language acquisition to take place. The debate now centers on the degree of explicitness necessary to draw learners’ attention to the targeted linguistic elements. This paper offers an introduction to Focus-on-Form, an influential and widespread pedagogical approach to second language acquisition that attempts to draw learners’ attention to the formal features of the target language as they arise incidentally in lessons whose overriding focus is on meaning. The paper also emphasizes the need for such research in an EFL context and mentions some studies that have been carried out in that direction.