Crosslinguistic Influence and Second Language Learning: Book Review

Abstract

The book Crosslinguistic Influence and Second Language Learning by Kevin McManus talks about how a person’s first language affects the learning and use of a second language. This book is related to applied linguistics because it helps teachers and researchers understand why learners sometimes transfer from their first language to the second language when they speak or write. The linguist explains how language influences performance in real-life situations. He shows that learning a second language is not only about understanding certain rules but also about how learners and speakers improve their use. The book connects with the theory that says research and teaching in a clear way make it very useful for students like me who are learning second language acquisition. The purpose of this review is to summarize the main idea of the book and share my opinion about its strengths and weaknesses and my understanding of this book. In this review, I will summarize the book chapter by chapter to give a practical review of all aspects of this book and scientific critiques.