Introducing L2 Matters

I'll start by saying something both controversial and uncontroversial: Research in applied linguistics and second language acquisition (SLA) has little relevance for second language (L2) teaching and practice. I think all of us (applied linguists and L2 teachers) can agree on this, right? No controversy there. What is controversial is the fact that somehow the research in our so-called "applied" social science has been largely unable to speak to the needs and concerns of the L2 classroom. This condition is beyond controversial, though. It's disheartening to realize that the lack of dialogue between these contexts and the stakeholders in them--usually L2 researchers and teachers as well as others like language program directors, administrators, legislators, and so forth--prevents research findings from reaching any form of classroom application. Moreover, not only are our efforts of questionable value outside of academia, but I think those of us who do research with "real world" application have an ethical responsibility to make our findings both available and accessible to those who might be able to use them. In other words, sharing our work beyond the walls of the academy is one of our major duties. Unfortunately it's also been one of our major failures. 

This space is a platform for sharing the findings of applied linguistics research with second and foreign language practitioners and professionals. Contributors, all applied linguists, will choose one or more empirical studies with relevance to pedagogy and write entries that relate their findings in a way that is both accessible and (hopefully) useful to L2 instruction. I (Luke Plonsky) will curate entries. 

I should mention that there are several other websites and blogs with similar goals such as The LingEducator Blog and FL Education in the 21st Century. This focus of this site, though, is different in that posts here will be (almost) exclusively devoted to conveying results from empirical studies as opposed to more general teaching tips and discussion of professional issues. 

Last, a note to two groups of people who might have stumbled upon this site: 

To scholars and students of applied linguistics: If you would like to contribute, please send me an email with your name, affiliation etc. and a citation of the study you'd like to write about. 

To L2 Instructors: I would love to hear from you on topics you think should be covered! Please email me: luke.plonsky@nau.edu