Preface SECTION I Survey Introduction:describing and explaining L2 acquisition What is second language acquisition? What are the goals of SLA? Two case studies Methodological issues Issues in the description of learner language Issues in the explanation of L2 acquisition The nature of Learner language Errors and error analysis Developmental patterns Variability in learner language Summary Interlanguage Behaviourist learning theory A mentalist theory of language learning What is interlanguage? A computational model of L2 acquisition Social aspects of interlanguage Interlanguage as a stylistic continuum The acculturation model of L2 acquisition Social identity and investment in L2 learning 5 Discourse aspects of interlanguage Acquiring discourse rules The role of input and interaction in L2 acquisition The role of output in L2 acquisition Summary 6 Psycholinguistic aspects of interlanguage L1 transfer The role of consciousness in L2 acquisition Processing operations Communication strategms Two types of computational model 7 Unguistic aspects of interlanguage Typological universals:relative clauses Universal Grammar Learnability The critical period hypothesis Access to UG Markedness Cognitive versus linguistic explanations 8 Individual differences in L 2 acquisition Language aptitude Motivation Learning strategies 9 lnstruction and L2 acquisition Form.focused instruction Learner--instruction matching Strategy training Summary 10 Conclusion:multiple perspectives in SLA SECTION 2 Readings SECTION 3 References SECTION 4 Glossary