Key topics in second language acquisition Boxes; Introduction; 1 How Do Different Languages Connect in Our Minds; 2 Is There a Best Age for Learning a Second Language; 3 How Do People Acquire the Words of a Second Language; 4 How Important is Grammar in Acquiring and Using a Second Language; 5 How Do People Learn to Write in a Second Language; 6 How Do Attitude and Motivation Help in Learning a Second Language; 7 How Useful is Second Language Acquisition Research for Language Teaching; 8 What are the Goals of Language Teaching; Epilogue; Glossary; Index. This textbook offers an introductory overview of eight hotly debated topics in second language acquisition research. It offers a glimpse of how SLA researchers have tried to answer common questions about second language acquisition rather than being a comprehensive introduction to SLA research. Each chapter comprises an introductory discussion of the issues involved and suggestions for further reading and study. The reader is asked to consider the issues based on their own experiences thus allowing them to compare their own intuitions and experiences with established research findings and gain an understanding of methodology.