Patricia Carrell, Joanne Devine and David Eskey (eds.): Interactive approaches to second language reading

Abstract

Second language teachers will readily agree that being able to read in the second language is of critical importance to their students.Yet much of the most valuable recent reading theory and research is inaccessible to the ordinary teacher because of the specialist vocabulary in <which it is reported.A definition of reading as 'an interaction of both "top-down" and "bottom-up" processes -that is processes that utilize background knowledge and schemata and are hence concept driven, as well as those that are primarily text or data driven' (xi) would be intelligible only to those who have a knowledge of schema theory.This book may do something to change that.The authors are concerned to present a clear picture of second language reading from an interactive perspective.They discuss theory, research, and classroom applications with the needs of a broad professional readership in mind, so they explain all key terms, and generally present an excellent collection of material in an accessible way.Contributors to the book are drawn from both America and Britain, so the picture of reading is rather broader than usual.Some seminal papers, such as that of Carrell and Eisterhold (1983), have been reprinted, but there is a great deal of original material.Further, the reprinted material has generally been adapted to the particular purposes of this volume.The general introduction establishes the distinctive emphasis of the book while providing a succinct account of the development of an interactive approach to reading.Thereafter, the book is divided in four sections.Part I deals with interactive models of reading, Part 11 with interactive approaches to second language reading theory, Part Ill with empirical studies of interactive approaches to second language reading, and Part IV with theoretical and practical implications of interactive approaches for second language reading pedagogy.These divisions allow adequate attention to be paid to different aspects while treating them as interrelated -the interconnections being skilfully suggested in the general introduction as well as in frequent cross-references.