YUE FANG (UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO)
QIANXIA JIN (Fudan University )

GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY ACQUISITION: INTENTIONAL OR INCIDENTAL LEARNING? : SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND LITERACY DEVELOPMENT

When examining second language acquisition (SLA), one cannot deny the importance of grammar and vocabulary as the foundational building blocks of L2 language learning. Grammar has enjoyed a wealth of research since the beginnings of SLA as a field, however, in recent years, vocabulary has also seen an uptake in research conducted. In examining acquisitional challenges related to both grammar and vocabulary, we seek to find what practices are best for acquisition in those two aspects as well as the pedagogical implications meant for L2 classrooms. In this paper, we aim to review acquisitional challenges related to grammar and vocabulary, the effects of instruction on acquisition, and most importantly, how these two points relate to pedagogical implications for the L2 classroom. We look at issues related to instruction versus natural acquisition, intentional versus incidental learning, as well as implicit versus explicit knowledge. After a detailed review of the existing research, it is clear that there is no one best method of acquisition, and that more research is still needed to understand how to effectively support language learners. The acquisition process needs to be supported by both incidental and intentional learning to facilitate the learning and acquiring of both implicit and explicit knowledge about the language. In this way, we also believe focusing on form is a great method to use because it employs both implicit and explicit instruction, which will help to activate both implicit and explicit knowledge in the learners.

I have a Master of Education degree from the University of Toronto and am currently working in the higher education field.

I am a non-faculty English instructor at Fudan University and graduated with a Master of Education at the University of Toronto.