Introduction: Investigating Form‐Focused Instruction

TLDR

The paper reviews the history of form‑focused instruction research, outlining its origins, key research questions, and current trends. The introduction aims to define form‑focused instruction, distinguish it from meaning‑focused instruction, outline three types based on focus and intensity, and discuss the main research methods used, contrasting confirmatory and interpretative approaches. The paper describes instructional options for each type of form‑focused instruction and considers methods for measuring acquisition.

Abstract

The Introduction has three main aims. First, it provides a historical sketch of form‐focused instruction research, documenting the origins of this branch of second language acquisition, the research questions that have been addressed, and current trends. Second, it seeks to define and conceptualize what is meant by “form‐focused instruction” by distinguishing it from “meaning‐focused instruction” and by describing three types of form‐focused instruction in terms of whether the primary focus is on form or meaning and whether the instructional attention to target forms is intensive or extensive. Various instructional options relating to each type are also described. Third, the Introduction offers a discussion of the main research methods that have been used to investigate form‐focused instruction in terms of a broad distinction between confirmatory and interpretative research. Methods of measuring “acquisition” in form‐focused instruction research are also considered.