FQRSC, Soutien aux équipes de recherche
2006-2010

L'efficacité dans l'apprentissage des langues secondes en salle de classe : comment l'expliquer et l'accoître/Explaining and enhancing efficiency in classroom second language learning

Collins, L., Trofimovich, P., Horst, M., White, J., Cardoso, W. (Concordia University)

The ALERT team (Acquiring Language Efficiently: Research and Teaching) has been formed to apply an innovative multi-dimensional approach that identifies learner-internal (psycholinguistic, cognitive) and learner-external (linguistic, instructional) factors contributing to efficient second language learning in classroom contexts. Our goal is to identify the linguistic content and pedagogical practices that will maximize the benefits of instructional time for L2 learners.

The team members’ research expertise covers three crucial dimensions of language proficiency:

• individual sounds, connected speech (segmental, suprasegmental phonology, Cardoso, Trofimovich)
• grammatical forms (morphology and syntax, Collins, White)
• vocabulary (semantics, lexical access, and frequency effects, Horst)

The specific goals of the ALERT research program are:

1. to determine how complete, reliable, and salient the phonological, lexico-semantic, and morpho-syntactic aspects of the input are to classroom learners
2. to understand the constraints that prevent the available input from being noticed, processed, and subsequently used to communicate in an L2 (the conversion of available input into actual “intake”)
3. to identify instructional techniques and learner practices that facilitate the noticing, retention and communicative use of language
4. to create theoretically-grounded and empirically-tested learning tools for training language teachers and future researchers.