Oxford Key Concepts for the Language Classroom focuses on key topics for teaching English as a second or foreign language to learners aged 6-16. These instructional guides are informed by research in second language acquisition and language pedagogy, and show the relevance of theory to the practicing teacher.

The series is suitable for students working towards MA TESOL, graduate certificates, or diploma qualifications, and for practicing teachers’ professional development programs.

Each title in the series includes:

• Spotlight Studies, highlighting important research on learning and teaching.
• Classroom Snapshots, featuring descriptions of teachers and students engaged in different approaches to learning and teaching.
• Activities, encouraging comparison and reflection.

Patsy M. Lightbown and Nina Spada are highly respected world-wide for making language theory accessible, and relating it to classroom teaching. Their award-winning How Languages are Learned is now in its fourth edition.

With Focus on Content-Based Language Teaching, I am delighted to find accounts of such a wide scope of content-based programs for both language majority and language minority students. This book is well-researched and well-written, and succeeds in making complex material very accessible.

Marguerite Ann Snow, Professor in TESOL, California State University, Los Angeles

Patsy M. Lightbown is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Applied Linguistics at Concordia University, Montreal.

Nina Spada is Professor in the Second Language Education Program, Department of Curriculum Teaching and Learning, OISE, University of Toronto.

An interview with Patsy Lightbown on bridging the gap between second language research and teaching

Why is there sometimes a gap between research and language teaching?

Why should we try to bridge the gap?

How does the Oxford key concepts for the language classroom series help to bridge the gap?