Second Language Pragmatics and Young Language Learners

First edited volume to bring together research on pragmatic competence in primary EFL contexts

This book brings together L2 pragmatics research in the under-explored context of EFL primary classrooms. Presenting studies from across Europe, the chapters provide a rich exploration of young learners’ pragmatic performance, awareness and development, classroom practices and the views of teachers and learners on pragmatics instruction.

This book brings together research on second language pragmatics in the underexplored context of EFL primary classrooms. Presenting studies from Croatia, Cyprus, Germany, Norway, Spain and the Netherlands, the book offers a rich exploration of different topics, such as learners' pragmatic performance, awareness and development, learners’ and teachers' views on pragmatic instruction, and investigations concerning material use and lesson planning. The studies feature a range of data sources including animated films, arts-based instruction, classroom discourse, narrated picture-based tasks, questionnaires and interviews, introducing the reader to a wealth of opportunities for young learners’ engagement with pragmatics. Being the first edited volume to provide an overview of the rapidly growing area of young learner pragmatics, it will be of great interest to researchers, graduate students and language teachers.