Reviews
Lee and Benati make a useful contribution to the grammar debate. Bronwen Dyson, University of Sydney, Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, Vol. 33, Number 1 (2010)
Delivering Processing Instruction in Classrooms and in Virtual Contexts
Research and Practice
Author
Alessandro Benati [+–]
University College Dublin
Professor Alessandro Benati (School of Education, University College Dublin) has held academic positions in several British and overseas institutions. He is known for his work in second language acquisition, and he published ground-breaking research on the pedagogical framework called processing instruction. His research on processing instruction has been recently driven by the use of new online measurements (e.g., eye tracking, and self-paced reading). Alessandro has coordinated national and international high-impact research projects which have been influential in determining educational policy and had an impact in providing effective language teacher training programs. He is the author and co-author of several research monographs, peer-reviewed articles in high-ranked journals, and editor and co-editor of book series and scientific journals such as Cambridge Elements in SLA and Instructed Second Language Acquisition. He was a member of the sub-panel for Modern Languages and Linguistics for the Research Excellence Framework for England (REF 2021), AHRC Panel, and he is an Honorary Professor at Your SJ University (UK), University of Hong Kong (China), Adjunct Professor at Macquarie University (Australia), and Visiting Professor at Anaheim University (USA)
Contributing Author
James F. Lee [+–]
University of New South Wales
View Website
James F. Lee is Deputy Head of the School of Humanities and Languages at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. His research focuses on second language reading comprehension and input processing. He is the author of Tasks and Communicating in Language Classrooms and is the co-author of Making Communicative Language Teaching Happen, both with McGraw-Hill.
Processing Instruction (PI) is an approach to grammar instruction for second language learning. It derives its name from the fact that the instruction (both the explicit explanation as well as the practices) attempt to influence, alter, and/or improve the way learners process input. PI contrasts with traditional grammar instruction in many ways, most principally in its focus on input whereas traditional grammar instruction focuses on learners’ output. The greatest contribution of PI to both theory and practice is the concept of “structured input”, a form of comprehensible input that has been manipulated to maximize learners’ benefit of exposure to input.
This volume focuses on a new issue for PI, the role of technology in language learning. It examines empirically the differential effects of delivering PI in classrooms with an instructor and students interacting (with each other and with the instructor) versus on computers to students working individually. It also contributes to the growing body of research on the effects of PI on different languages as well as different linguistic items: preterite/imperfect aspectual contrast and negative informal commands in Spanish, the subjunctive of doubt and opinion in Italian, and the subjunctive of doubt in French. Further research contributions are made by comparing PI with other types of instruction, specifically, with meaning-oriented output instruction.
Table of Contents
Prelims
Preface [+–] ix-x
University of New South Wales
James F. Lee is Deputy Head of the School of Humanities and Languages at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. His research focuses on second language reading comprehension and input processing. He is the author of Tasks and Communicating in Language Classrooms and is the co-author of Making Communicative Language Teaching Happen, both with McGraw-Hill.
University of Portsmouth
Professor Alessandro Benati is Professor of Second Language Acquisition and Head of School of Languages and Area Studies at the University of Portsmouth. He is internationally known for his research in second language learning and teaching, with special emphases on processing instruction. He is a pioneering researcher in the area of second language acquisition (SLA) and has built a reputation on two fronts. On one front, he is a premier Italian language scholar producing the most empirical work on the teaching and acquisition of Italian in the world. On the other front, he is a scholar in the more general field of instructed SLA, with an emphasis on the effects of formal instruction on the acquisition of grammatical properties by second language learners. He has a strong publications record with 12 established monographs, chapters and articles in international journals (Language Awareness, IRAL, and Language Teaching Research).
Preface
Introduction [+–] 1-4
University of New South Wales
James F. Lee is Deputy Head of the School of Humanities and Languages at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. His research focuses on second language reading comprehension and input processing. He is the author of Tasks and Communicating in Language Classrooms and is the co-author of Making Communicative Language Teaching Happen, both with McGraw-Hill.
University of Portsmouth
Professor Alessandro Benati is Professor of Second Language Acquisition and Head of School of Languages and Area Studies at the University of Portsmouth. He is internationally known for his research in second language learning and teaching, with special emphases on processing instruction. He is a pioneering researcher in the area of second language acquisition (SLA) and has built a reputation on two fronts. On one front, he is a premier Italian language scholar producing the most empirical work on the teaching and acquisition of Italian in the world. On the other front, he is a scholar in the more general field of instructed SLA, with an emphasis on the effects of formal instruction on the acquisition of grammatical properties by second language learners. He has a strong publications record with 12 established monographs, chapters and articles in international journals (Language Awareness, IRAL, and Language Teaching Research).
This book presents the results of a recent research in Processing Instruction, which is an approach to grammar instruction for second language learning.
1
University of New South Wales
James F. Lee is Deputy Head of the School of Humanities and Languages at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. His research focuses on second language reading comprehension and input processing. He is the author of Tasks and Communicating in Language Classrooms and is the co-author of Making Communicative Language Teaching Happen, both with McGraw-Hill.
University of Portsmouth
Professor Alessandro Benati is Professor of Second Language Acquisition and Head of School of Languages and Area Studies at the University of Portsmouth. He is internationally known for his research in second language learning and teaching, with special emphases on processing instruction. He is a pioneering researcher in the area of second language acquisition (SLA) and has built a reputation on two fronts. On one front, he is a premier Italian language scholar producing the most empirical work on the teaching and acquisition of Italian in the world. On the other front, he is a scholar in the more general field of instructed SLA, with an emphasis on the effects of formal instruction on the acquisition of grammatical properties by second language learners. He has a strong publications record with 12 established monographs, chapters and articles in international journals (Language Awareness, IRAL, and Language Teaching Research).
This chapter is formed of two parts: the theory and the practice of Processing Instruction. It has been pointed out that research in second language acquisition (SLA) has mainly been concerned with whether or not instruction has an effect on different aspects of language acquisition neglecting the fundamental questions of why and how instruction would make a difference in SLA.
2
University of New South Wales
James F. Lee is Deputy Head of the School of Humanities and Languages at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. His research focuses on second language reading comprehension and input processing. He is the author of Tasks and Communicating in Language Classrooms and is the co-author of Making Communicative Language Teaching Happen, both with McGraw-Hill.
University of Portsmouth
Professor Alessandro Benati is Professor of Second Language Acquisition and Head of School of Languages and Area Studies at the University of Portsmouth. He is internationally known for his research in second language learning and teaching, with special emphases on processing instruction. He is a pioneering researcher in the area of second language acquisition (SLA) and has built a reputation on two fronts. On one front, he is a premier Italian language scholar producing the most empirical work on the teaching and acquisition of Italian in the world. On the other front, he is a scholar in the more general field of instructed SLA, with an emphasis on the effects of formal instruction on the acquisition of grammatical properties by second language learners. He has a strong publications record with 12 established monographs, chapters and articles in international journals (Language Awareness, IRAL, and Language Teaching Research).
This chapter reviews the research conducted to date demonstrating a very consistent set of findings on the effects of PI and the elements of PI that cause those effects. In order to appreciate the breadth of the research base, the chapter begins with an account of the linguistic items that have been investigated.
3
The effects of structured input activities on the acquisition of two Japanese linguistic features [+–] 49-72
University of New South Wales
James F. Lee is Deputy Head of the School of Humanities and Languages at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. His research focuses on second language reading comprehension and input processing. He is the author of Tasks and Communicating in Language Classrooms and is the co-author of Making Communicative Language Teaching Happen, both with McGraw-Hill.
University of Portsmouth
Professor Alessandro Benati is Professor of Second Language Acquisition and Head of School of Languages and Area Studies at the University of Portsmouth. He is internationally known for his research in second language learning and teaching, with special emphases on processing instruction. He is a pioneering researcher in the area of second language acquisition (SLA) and has built a reputation on two fronts. On one front, he is a premier Italian language scholar producing the most empirical work on the teaching and acquisition of Italian in the world. On the other front, he is a scholar in the more general field of instructed SLA, with an emphasis on the effects of formal instruction on the acquisition of grammatical properties by second language learners. He has a strong publications record with 12 established monographs, chapters and articles in international journals (Language Awareness, IRAL, and Language Teaching Research).
The main purpose of this chapter is to compare the relative effects of SI with those of TI on the acquisition of a non-Romance L2, namely, Japanese. SI practice is used as a form of intervention on two different linguistic features of Japanese and relative processing problems.
4
University of New South Wales
James F. Lee is Deputy Head of the School of Humanities and Languages at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. His research focuses on second language reading comprehension and input processing. He is the author of Tasks and Communicating in Language Classrooms and is the co-author of Making Communicative Language Teaching Happen, both with McGraw-Hill.
University of Portsmouth
Professor Alessandro Benati is Professor of Second Language Acquisition and Head of School of Languages and Area Studies at the University of Portsmouth. He is internationally known for his research in second language learning and teaching, with special emphases on processing instruction. He is a pioneering researcher in the area of second language acquisition (SLA) and has built a reputation on two fronts. On one front, he is a premier Italian language scholar producing the most empirical work on the teaching and acquisition of Italian in the world. On the other front, he is a scholar in the more general field of instructed SLA, with an emphasis on the effects of formal instruction on the acquisition of grammatical properties by second language learners. He has a strong publications record with 12 established monographs, chapters and articles in international journals (Language Awareness, IRAL, and Language Teaching Research).
This chapter discusses how to integrate technology more effectively into the learning and teaching of languages. The results of delivering PI in classrooms, on computers, and in a hybridised environment combining elements of the classroom and the computer, are empirically compared.
5
University of New South Wales
James F. Lee is Deputy Head of the School of Humanities and Languages at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. His research focuses on second language reading comprehension and input processing. He is the author of Tasks and Communicating in Language Classrooms and is the co-author of Making Communicative Language Teaching Happen, both with McGraw-Hill.
University of Portsmouth
Professor Alessandro Benati is Professor of Second Language Acquisition and Head of School of Languages and Area Studies at the University of Portsmouth. He is internationally known for his research in second language learning and teaching, with special emphases on processing instruction. He is a pioneering researcher in the area of second language acquisition (SLA) and has built a reputation on two fronts. On one front, he is a premier Italian language scholar producing the most empirical work on the teaching and acquisition of Italian in the world. On the other front, he is a scholar in the more general field of instructed SLA, with an emphasis on the effects of formal instruction on the acquisition of grammatical properties by second language learners. He has a strong publications record with 12 established monographs, chapters and articles in international journals (Language Awareness, IRAL, and Language Teaching Research).
This chapter presents the possible effects of PI and MOI and contrasts different forms of delivering the two instructional treatments on the acquisition of Italian and French subjunctive, in particular, the subjunctive involving expressions of doubt, uncertainty, or disbelief. PI consists of explicit information about the target feature followed by practice through structured input activities, and MOI contains the same explicit information as in the case of the PI treatment followed by an output type of practice through structured output activities.
6
University of New South Wales
James F. Lee is Deputy Head of the School of Humanities and Languages at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. His research focuses on second language reading comprehension and input processing. He is the author of Tasks and Communicating in Language Classrooms and is the co-author of Making Communicative Language Teaching Happen, both with McGraw-Hill.
University of Portsmouth
Professor Alessandro Benati is Professor of Second Language Acquisition and Head of School of Languages and Area Studies at the University of Portsmouth. He is internationally known for his research in second language learning and teaching, with special emphases on processing instruction. He is a pioneering researcher in the area of second language acquisition (SLA) and has built a reputation on two fronts. On one front, he is a premier Italian language scholar producing the most empirical work on the teaching and acquisition of Italian in the world. On the other front, he is a scholar in the more general field of instructed SLA, with an emphasis on the effects of formal instruction on the acquisition of grammatical properties by second language learners. He has a strong publications record with 12 established monographs, chapters and articles in international journals (Language Awareness, IRAL, and Language Teaching Research).
This chapter summarises the findings of the empirical research presented in Chapters 3–5, and place it in the context of previous research on PI. Moreover, the pedagogical implications are extrapolated, focusing not only on delivering PI in classrooms and on computers, but on PI as part of a sequence of learning activities for grammar instruction that move learners from processing input to producing output.
End Matter
References [+–] 153-158
University of New South Wales
James F. Lee is Deputy Head of the School of Humanities and Languages at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. His research focuses on second language reading comprehension and input processing. He is the author of Tasks and Communicating in Language Classrooms and is the co-author of Making Communicative Language Teaching Happen, both with McGraw-Hill.
University of Portsmouth
Professor Alessandro Benati is Professor of Second Language Acquisition and Head of School of Languages and Area Studies at the University of Portsmouth. He is internationally known for his research in second language learning and teaching, with special emphases on processing instruction. He is a pioneering researcher in the area of second language acquisition (SLA) and has built a reputation on two fronts. On one front, he is a premier Italian language scholar producing the most empirical work on the teaching and acquisition of Italian in the world. On the other front, he is a scholar in the more general field of instructed SLA, with an emphasis on the effects of formal instruction on the acquisition of grammatical properties by second language learners. He has a strong publications record with 12 established monographs, chapters and articles in international journals (Language Awareness, IRAL, and Language Teaching Research).
Processing Instruction (PI) is an approach to grammar instruction for second language learning. It derives its name from the fact that the instruction (both the explicit explanation as well as the practices) attempt to influence, alter, and/or improve the way learners process input. PI contrasts with traditional grammar instruction in many ways, most principally in its focus on input whereas traditional grammar instruction focuses on learners’ output. The greatest contribution of PI to both theory and practice is the concept of “structured input”, a form of comprehensible input that has been manipulated to maximize learners’ benefit of exposure to input. This volume focuses on a new issue for PI, the role of technology in language learning. It examines empirically the differential effects of delivering PI in classrooms with an instructor and students interacting (with each other and with the instructor) versus on computers to students working individually. It also contributes to the growing body of research on the effects of PI on different languages as well as different linguistic items: preterite/imperfect aspectual contrast and negative informal commands in Spanish, the subjunctive of doubt and opinion in Italian, and the subjunctive of doubt in French. Further research contributions are made by comparing PI with other types of instruction, specifically, with meaning-oriented output instruction.
Index [+–] 159-161
University of New South Wales
James F. Lee is Deputy Head of the School of Humanities and Languages at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. His research focuses on second language reading comprehension and input processing. He is the author of Tasks and Communicating in Language Classrooms and is the co-author of Making Communicative Language Teaching Happen, both with McGraw-Hill.
University of Portsmouth
Professor Alessandro Benati is Professor of Second Language Acquisition and Head of School of Languages and Area Studies at the University of Portsmouth. He is internationally known for his research in second language learning and teaching, with special emphases on processing instruction. He is a pioneering researcher in the area of second language acquisition (SLA) and has built a reputation on two fronts. On one front, he is a premier Italian language scholar producing the most empirical work on the teaching and acquisition of Italian in the world. On the other front, he is a scholar in the more general field of instructed SLA, with an emphasis on the effects of formal instruction on the acquisition of grammatical properties by second language learners. He has a strong publications record with 12 established monographs, chapters and articles in international journals (Language Awareness, IRAL, and Language Teaching Research).
Processing Instruction (PI) is an approach to grammar instruction for second language learning. It derives its name from the fact that the instruction (both the explicit explanation as well as the practices) attempt to influence, alter, and/or improve the way learners process input. PI contrasts with traditional grammar instruction in many ways, most principally in its focus on input whereas traditional grammar instruction focuses on learners’ output. The greatest contribution of PI to both theory and practice is the concept of “structured input”, a form of comprehensible input that has been manipulated to maximize learners’ benefit of exposure to input. This volume focuses on a new issue for PI, the role of technology in language learning. It examines empirically the differential effects of delivering PI in classrooms with an instructor and students interacting (with each other and with the instructor) versus on computers to students working individually. It also contributes to the growing body of research on the effects of PI on different languages as well as different linguistic items: preterite/imperfect aspectual contrast and negative informal commands in Spanish, the subjunctive of doubt and opinion in Italian, and the subjunctive of doubt in French. Further research contributions are made by comparing PI with other types of instruction, specifically, with meaning-oriented output instruction.
