Authenticity, Language and Interaction in Second Language Contexts

In bringing together a wealth of empirical data from both informal and formal pedagogic contexts, this collection not only makes a powerful and informed contribution to the still vibrant debate over the issue of authenticity in language education, but also succeeds in challenging and, to a large extent, superseding existing understandings of the concept.

* Malcolm MacDonald, University of Warwick, UK *

This excellent collection makes a significant contribution to emerging and increasingly diverse scholarship in Second Language Studies. Chapters probe and question key concepts and established assumptions in Pragmatics, Intercultural Communication and SLA. The book not only offers findings that deepen our understandings of what it means – in terms of theory and practice – to communicate in a superdiverse, multilingual world, it also effectively addresses the pressing question of how we should do Applied Linguistics in the 21st century.

* Alan Firth, Newcastle University, UK *

This excellent collection of studies offers new ways of understanding the multidimensionality of authenticity as it relates to language use, identity, agency and culture in a variety of second language learning contexts and from different theoretical and methodological approaches. Second language teachers and researchers of second language acquisition will find it an indispensable resource.

* Joan Kelly Hall, Pennsylvania State University, U