Debates in Modern Languages Education offers a comprehensive introduction and synthesis of the major themes and research evidence in language learning and teaching today, providing an up-to-date, authoritative review of traditional and contemporary issues in language teaching. With chapters by leading experts in the field, thematic sections explore and consider:the importance of a wide range of different knowledge bases and skills for effective teachinghow to become expert practitionersapproaches to teaching with reference to relevant theories.

Cover; Debates in Modern Languages Education; Title Page; Copyright Page; Table of Contents; List of illustrations; List of contributors; List of abbreviations; Introduction to the series; Introduction; Part I Overview; 1 Languages over the past 40 years: Does history repeat itself?; 2 Cognitive processing and foreign language use; 3 Evidence-informed practice as an effective approach to teacher development; Part II Issues in the classroom; 4 Listening and understanding; 5 Speaking interactively; 6 Developing reading and decoding in the modern foreign languages classroom. 7 Learning and teaching writing in the foreign languages classroom: Fostering writing-to-learn approaches8 Grammar: The never-ending debate; 9 Vocabulary and formulaic language: Where to begin?; 10 Cultural awareness: Should it be taught? Can it be taught?; 11 Developments in formative assessment: A retrograde step for teaching and learning?; 12 Making progress in languages: Issues around transition; 13 The many faces of motivation; 14 Learning strategies, autonomy and self-regulated learning; Part III Educational debates; 15 Making the case for the future of languages. 16 Creative practice in the languages classroom17 Content and language integrated learning: Has its time come?; 18 Managing learners' needs: Policy, research and practice; 19 A new era for primary languages; References; Index.