What does SLAT mean in LANGUAGE & LITERATURE

Second Language Acquisition and Teaching (SLAT) is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on researching and understanding the process by which humans acquire a new language, as well as the teaching methods used to facilitate learning.

With increasing globalisation, there is now greater pressure for individuals to learn additional languages for purposes such as work, travel or personal interests. Therefore it is vital to understand the best practices for facilitating second language acquisition so learners can optimise their progress.

While traditional language learning approaches often focus more on memorisation of rules and vocabulary lists, SLAT aims to uncover the psychological aspects of language acquisition in order to understand why some learners are successful while others struggle.

SLAT research typically utilises both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. This includes analysis of learner input data gathered through interviews or journals, alongside experimental data from studies involving stimuli such as video clips or text passages. This information can then be used to inform effective teaching strategies and curriculum design.

Yes, many companies are now utilising SLAT research findings when designing online or classroom-based language courses for employees or customers. The insights gained from linguistics, psychology and other disciplines can help these programmes become more efficient and easily understood by learners.