A groundbreaking textbook, “A Practical Guide To Second Language Teaching And Learning,” co-authored by Shawn Loewen and Masatoshi Sato, has won the prestigious 2025 PROSE Award in the Language and Linguistics category. This award signifies its exceptional contribution to the field of second language acquisition.
Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice in Second Language Teaching
Loewen, a professor at Michigan State University, identified a need for a comprehensive and accessible textbook in second language teaching and learning. This led him to collaborate with Sato, a teacher of English pedagogy at Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile, to create this award-winning resource. The book aims to provide a practical guide for aspiring second language educators, combining theoretical foundations with practical classroom applications.
Key Features of “A Practical Guide to Second Language Teaching and Learning”
This practical guide to second language teaching and learning distinguishes itself through several key features:
Comprehensive and Accessible Content
The book offers a complete semester’s worth of instructional materials written in clear, jargon-free language. This ensures accessibility for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Connecting Theory to Practice
Each chapter seamlessly integrates theoretical concepts with practical pedagogical guidelines and suggestions, enabling students to bridge the gap between abstract knowledge and real-world classroom application.
Engaging Learning Activities
Pre- and post-reading activities encourage students to actively engage with the material and connect the topics to their own experiences, fostering deeper understanding.
Real-World Research Examples
Summaries of empirical studies in second language acquisition are presented in a non-technical manner, providing students with evidence-based insights into effective teaching practices.
Reinforcing Learning through Assignments
End-of-chapter assignments are designed to reinforce student learning and directly relate to the chapter content, ensuring a thorough understanding of key concepts.
Recognition of Excellence: The PROSE Award
The PROSE Award, bestowed by the Association of American Publishers, recognizes outstanding works in professional and scholarly publishing. The selection of “A Practical Guide to Second Language Teaching and Learning” as a category winner highlights its significant contribution to the field. The judging panel, comprised of esteemed academics, recognized the book’s overall excellence in scholarly publishing.
Addressing the Importance of Second Language Education
In a world where multilingualism and multiculturalism are increasingly vital, this textbook equips future educators with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively teach second languages. It empowers students with a solid understanding of the complexities involved in second language acquisition and pedagogy.
A Resource for Future Second Language Educators
“A Practical Guide to Second Language Teaching and Learning” serves as an invaluable resource for individuals entering the field of second language teaching. By providing a strong foundation in both theory and practice, it prepares future educators to create engaging and effective learning experiences for their students.
Conclusion: A Valuable Contribution to the Field
The PROSE Award affirms the significance of “A Practical Guide to Second Language Teaching and Learning” as a crucial resource for second language education. This comprehensive textbook equips future educators with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to foster successful language learning in diverse classrooms. It sets a new standard for excellence in second language teaching resources.
