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Introducing Second Language Acquisition: Perspectives and Practices represents a clear and concise introduction to the main concepts, issues, and debates in second language acquisition studies aimed specifically at undergraduates encountering the topic for the first time.
Follows six fictitious language learners throughout the text whose stories serve to introduce various concepts and issues
Contains specific chapters on first language acquisition and bilingualism, as well as explicit references to the most recent and important research Covers key topics including acquisition contexts, theoretical perspectives, language teaching methods, second language development, and individual differences (such as age, aptitude, and motivation)
Grabs student attention with lighthearted cartoons that illustrate and reinforce key ideas
Features a full range of pedagogical tools to aid student learning, including "language learning in practice" textboxes; bolded new terms defined in the margins; an end-of-book glossary; self-assessment and classroom discussion questions; exercise and project ideas; and further online viewing sections

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"Readers will recognize the voice of an experienced teacher as they make their way through Introducing Second Language Acquisition."
--Carol A. Chapelle, Iowa State University
"Kirsten Hummel´s textbook does an excellent job of introducing the complexity of second language acquisition in a student-friendly format for undergraduate courses. Real-life characters help ground empirical learning phenomena and their theoretical explanations."
--Elisabet Service, McMaster University

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Kirsten M. Hummel is Professor in the Department of Languages, Linguistics, and Translation at Laval University, Quebec, Canada. She is the editor of An Introduction to Language, Fourth Canadian Edition (with V. Fromkin, R. Rodman and N. Hyams, 2010), has published in several areas of second language acquisition, and has taught as a visiting professor in Eastern Europe and Central Africa.

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