Book contents
- Linguistic Foundations for Second Language Teaching and Learning
- Linguistic Foundations for Second Language Teaching and Learning
- Copyright page
- Dedications
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction: Setting the Stage
- 1 Where Are We Now? The Status of Linguistics in US Master’s-Level L2 Teacher Training Programs
- 2 The Strengths of Functional-Typological Linguistics in L2 Perspective
- 3 Form Follows Function: Systemic Functional Linguistics for L2 Teaching and Learning
- 4 Incorporating Formal Language Analysis in the Language Teacher Curriculum
- 5 Linguistic Foundations for L2 Pronunciation Teaching
- 6 Why Morphosyntax Matters to Second Language Teaching and Learning
- 7 Discourse and Pragmatics: An L2 Affair to Remember
- 8 Why Conversation Analysis Matters to L2 Teaching and Learning
- 9 Sociolinguistics and Second Language Teaching and Learning
- 10 Why Corpus Linguistics Matters to L2 Teaching and Learning
- 11 The Critical Role of Linguistics in Teacher Preparation
- 12 Why Linguistics Matters to Second Language Teaching in K-12
- 13 Why Teach Linguistics to L2 Learners? Evidence from the Western Washington University Spanish Language Program
- 14 Why Second Language Acquisition Should Be a Part of Linguistics Education
- Conclusion: Where Do We Go from Here?
- Index
- References
3 - Form Follows Function: Systemic Functional Linguistics for L2 Teaching and Learning
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 February 2026
Book contents
- Linguistic Foundations for Second Language Teaching and Learning
- Linguistic Foundations for Second Language Teaching and Learning
- Copyright page
- Dedications
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction: Setting the Stage
- 1 Where Are We Now? The Status of Linguistics in US Master’s-Level L2 Teacher Training Programs
- 2 The Strengths of Functional-Typological Linguistics in L2 Perspective
- 3 Form Follows Function: Systemic Functional Linguistics for L2 Teaching and Learning
- 4 Incorporating Formal Language Analysis in the Language Teacher Curriculum
- 5 Linguistic Foundations for L2 Pronunciation Teaching
- 6 Why Morphosyntax Matters to Second Language Teaching and Learning
- 7 Discourse and Pragmatics: An L2 Affair to Remember
- 8 Why Conversation Analysis Matters to L2 Teaching and Learning
- 9 Sociolinguistics and Second Language Teaching and Learning
- 10 Why Corpus Linguistics Matters to L2 Teaching and Learning
- 11 The Critical Role of Linguistics in Teacher Preparation
- 12 Why Linguistics Matters to Second Language Teaching in K-12
- 13 Why Teach Linguistics to L2 Learners? Evidence from the Western Washington University Spanish Language Program
- 14 Why Second Language Acquisition Should Be a Part of Linguistics Education
- Conclusion: Where Do We Go from Here?
- Index
- References
Summary
In this chapter, we outline the unique advantages of systemic functional linguistics (SFL) to describe spoken and written discourse in texts and provide a strong foundation for English language learners to produce their own stretches of spoken and written discourse. We also provide practical applications of SFL theory through example activities based on a genre-based approach to language teaching using a teaching-learning cycle, which builds on Vygotsky’s concept of the Zone of Proximal Development and Bruner’s notion of scaffolding. SFL is a comprehensive and at the same time fully appliable linguistics. Learning a second language involves making meanings about the world, making meanings to interact with others in the world, and creating cohesive and coherent texts, all at the same time. Making choices from the language system is fundamental. By combining a social semiotic view of language with socially oriented theories of language learning involving semiotic mediation through scaffolding, second language teachers can be explicit about the linguistic properties of texts in context and offer the right kinds of support and guidance through cycles of language learning and teaching.
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- Linguistic Foundations for Second Language Teaching and LearningBridging the Disciplinary Divide, pp. 50 - 73Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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