Foreign Language Textbook Activities: Keeping Pace with Second Language Acquisition Research

Recent research in second language acquisition found that learners reached higher levels of achievement when grammar practice included the processing and negotiation of meaning. This study explored the degree to which certain textbook activities reflected the earlier findings. A typology of production activities — based on the degree to which the activities required learners to process meaning — was established. The activities for two grammar points from selected Italian elementary language textbooks were classified according to this typology, ultimately demonstrating that Italian texts still rely heavily on traditional, mechanical activities to practice certain structures. The study produced a typology of activities and an assessment procedure that can be used to determine how well foreign language textbook activities have kept pace with research in second language acquisition.