An application of second language acquisition research to ESL grammar teaching: What to do with novel passives

• Main Author: Patricia A. Balcom
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Carleton University 2001-12-01
• Series: Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics
• Online Access: https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/CJAL/article/view/19829

Abstract This paper demonstrates how second language acquisition research can inform textbook writers and language teachers. It begins with a summary of research which indicates that inappropriate passives are produced and accepted by learners with a variety of L1s and at different levels of proficiency. Researchers agree that the phenomenon is related to unaccusativity. It then presents an analysis of 40 ESL grammar textbooks which shows that few even mention unaccusative verbs or inappropriate passives in their presentation of active and passive voice. Only 7.5% discuss unaccusative verbs, while 10% give examples of inappropriate passives (explicit mention) and 10% explain that certain verbs cannot passivize (implicit mention). Moreover, those texts which do attempt to deal with unaccusatives and inappropriate passives are not complete, and may mislead the learner. The paper concludes with suggestions for dealing with unaccusativity and inappropriate passives in the ESL classroom, based on the relevant SLA research as well as studies in lexical semantics.