Second Language Acquisition Abroad

The LDS Missionary Experience

Editor

Lynne Hansen

| Brigham Young University, Hawaii

Hardbound – Available

ISBN 9789027241863 | EUR 90.00 | USD 135.00

e-Book –

ISBN 9789027281661 | EUR 90.00 | USD 135.00

This volume brings together for the first time a collection of studies devoted to missionary language learning and retention. Introductory chapters provide historical perspectives on this population and on language teaching philosophy and practice in the LDS tradition. The empirical studies which follow are divided into two sections, the first examining mission language acquisition by English-speaking missionaries abroad, the second focusing on post-mission language attrition. These chapters by internationally known scholars offer cutting-edge research using a number of different target languages in addressing various issues in second language development. Finally, a comprehensive bibliography of sources on mission languages is included. The readership of this pioneering work is expected to extend beyond specialists in study abroad and missionary language training to a broader audience of applied linguists, educators, and students interested in language acquisition and attrition. In addition, the book offers useful insights to adults who want to maintain a second language.

[Studies in Bilingualism, 45] 2012. x, 268 pp.

Publishing status: Available

https://doi.org/10.1075/sibil.45

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix–x
Chapter 1. Introduction: Investigating mission languages Lynne Hansen	1–10
Section I Acquisition of mission languages
Chapter 2. Language learning and teaching in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints C. Ray Graham	11–28
Chapter 3. The development of speaking proficiency of LDS missionaries Dan Dewey and Ray T. Clifford	29–50
Chapter 4. An examination of the effects of input, aptitude, and motivation on the language proficiency of missionaries mearning Japanese as a second language Jenifer Larson-Hall and Dan Dewey	51–88
Chapter 5. In the beginning was the word: Vocabulary learning in six mission languages Lynne Hansen, Karri Lam, Livia Orikasa Nufer, Paul Rama, Geraldine Schwaller and Ronald M. Miller	89–108
Section II Attrition of mission languages
Chapter 6. The lost word: Vocabulary attrition in six mission languages Lynne Hansen, Andrew Colver, Wonhye Chong, Helama Pereira, Jeremy Robinson, Akihiro Sawada and Ronald M. Miller	109–134
Chapter 7. Vocabulary attrition in adult speakers of Spanish as a second language C. Ray Graham	135–184
Chapter 8. Savings in the relearning of mission vocabulary: The effects of time and proficiency Lynne Hansen, Melanie McKinney Sterling and Yukako Umeda	185–202
Chapter 9. What counts in the retention of numeral classifiers in Japanese and Chinese? Lynne Hansen and Yunglin Chen	203–220
Chapter 10. Syntactic attrition in L2 Japanese missionary language Robert A. Russell	221–244
Chapter 11. The measurement of oral fluency in mission languages Lynne Hansen, James Gardner, James Pollard, Joshua Rowe and Junko Tsukayama	245–258
Comprehensive bibliography of mission language references: Annotated	259–262
Comprehensive bibliography of mission language references: Unannotated	263–266
Index	267–268

“A well researched and sensitive volume, focusing on a special group of learners and offering valuable new insights on L2 learning in the study abroad context, enriched by a complementary discussion of maintenance or loss when the need for L2 language use diminshes.”

Barbara F. Freed, Carnegie Mellon University

“This fascinating edited collection presents a wide-ranging look at L2 learning and attrition in what is possibly a unique population of second language learners—returning missionary students from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons). Though the context is very specific, the studies have clear implications for L2 studies in general. The book provides stimulating and comprehensive results and analyses that address the strengths, limitations and implications of the missionaries' language training, plus a stimulating history of the Church's 175-year focus on second language learning and teaching. This volume is sure to spark useful debate and many new thoughts about L2 acquisition and attrition, and about how to capitalize on future opportunities to study large, special L2 learner groups. This book is a wonderful source of ideas and information for anyone interested in L2 acquisition; I highly recommend it.”

Professor Norman Segalowitz, Concordia University, Montréal

“This volume captures the life cycle of second language acquisition in a particular study abroad setting: the LDS missionary language experience. Beginning with the language teaching philosophy which informs the initial language instruction, the first section of the book documents the second language acquisition of both European and Asian languages by this group of L2 learners, and the second part chronicles attrition, relearning, and retention. Hansen has edited another excellent volume unified by a single context of acquisition, the missionary experience, with contributions ranging from acquisition to attrition and relearning. This book is a must read both for readers interested in the life-cycle of acquisition, and those who want to explore acquisition in this study abroad setting.”

Kathleen Bardovi-Harlig, Indiana University

Cited by

Cited by 6 other publications

Hansen, Lynne

2012. In The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics,

Ni, Chuanbin & Xiaobing Jin

2020. Will Emotional Effects Modulate L2 Lexical Attrition as they Do in L2 Acquisition?. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research 49:4 ► pp. 583 ff.

Ortega, Lourdes

2013. SLA for the 21st Century: Disciplinary Progress, Transdisciplinary Relevance, and the Bi/multilingual Turn. Language Learning 63 ► pp. 1 ff.

Pérez-Vidal, Carmen

2014. In Language Acquisition in Study Abroad and Formal Instruction Contexts [AILA Applied Linguistics Series, 13], ► pp. 17 ff.

Sanz, Cristina

2014. In Language Acquisition in Study Abroad and Formal Instruction Contexts [AILA Applied Linguistics Series, 13], ► pp. 1 ff.

Schmitt, Norbert & Diane Schmitt

2020. In Vocabulary in Language Teaching,

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 14 june 2021. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Subjects

Linguistics

Applied linguistics

Language acquisition

Language teaching

BIC Subject: CJA – Language teaching theory & methods

BISAC Subject: LAN020000 – LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Study & Teaching

U.S. Library of Congress Control Number: 2011043166 | Marc record