Understanding Silence and Reticence Ways of Participating in Second Language Acquisition

by Bao, Dat

• ISBN13: 9781441102706
• ISBN10: 1441102701
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2014-04-10
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic

Summary

What is the state of that which is not spoken? This book presents empirical research related to the phenomenon of reticence in the second language classroom, connecting current knowledge and theoretical debates in language learning and acquisition.

Why do language learners remain silent or exhibit reticence? In what ways can silence in the language learning classroom be justified? To what extent should learners employ or modify silence? Do quiet learners work more effectively with quiet or verbal learners? Looking at evidence from Australia, China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, the book presents research data on many internal and external forces that influence the silent mode of learning in contemporary education. This work gives the reader a chance to reflect more profoundly on cultural ways of learning languages.

Author Biography

Dat Bao lectures in the Faculty of Education, Monash University, Australia and has worked closely with universities in the US, the UK, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.

Table of Contents

1. The Need for Research into Silence and Reticence \ 2. Critical Review of Current Knowledge \ 3. Educators' and Learners' Attitudes Toward Silence \ 4. Action Research on Reticence in Vietnam \ 5. Empirical Research in Reticence in China \ 6. Reticence in Korea \ 7. Reticence in Japan \ 8. Perspectives on Asian Students' Reticence in the Australian ESL Classroom \ 9. Silence as Self-Talk: English Teachers in Iloilo, Philippines \ 10. The Options Beyond Silence\ 11. An Experiment in the Everyday Classroom \ 12. Conclusion \ Bibliography \ Index