Contrastive Analysis for the Contemporary Second Language Classroom (Language and Literacy Series)

Excerpt from the Preface: The contemporary teacher's standard box of pedagogical tools is not likely to contain the traditional technique known as Contrastive Analysis (CA). In our opinion, CA still has an important role to play in second language teaching (SLT), since it provides the teacher with a framework in which to understand how the learner uses the native language (NL) as a "template" for deciphering and organizing the linguistic and communicative categories of the target language. The purpose of this small manual is to revisit CA from the perspective of contemporary SLT. It is designed to serve as a handbook for teachers wishing to get an overview of CA in the context of current theoretical and practical issues in the field. Prior technical knowledge of linguistics and psychology is not necessary, since every attempt has been made to build upon what teachers already know about language and about learned. Since its focus is practical, the usual critical apparatus found in handbooks of this kind is avoided.