ELTAM Research SIG
The Research SIG provides a forum for learning, sharing and doing research of all kinds connected to English language teaching and learning.

1. Focus of interest – Research in issues concerning teaching and learning English as a foreign language, especially Second Language Acquisition (SLA) Research:

• What is SLA?

SLA is a theoretical and experimental field of study which looks at and seeks to understand the phenomenon of language development in learners of a second language, either in natural or in classroom environment.

• What does SLA research examine?

The goal of SLA research is to describe and explain the learner’s linguistic or communicative competence. For that purpose the researcher must examine various aspects of the learner’s knowledge of linguistic rules, as well as his/her ability to put them effectively into use for the purpose of communication.
The dominant aim behind this research is to extend our understanding of the complex processes and mechanisms that drive language acquisition. It should also provide insights of how to incorporate such findings in classroom methodology for improving the acquisition results.

2. Why do teachers need SLA Research?

The study of SLA provides a body of knowledge which teachers can use to evaluate their own practice. ... Every time they make a pedagogic decision about content or methodology they are in fact making assumptions about how learners learn.

How can the study of SLA help teachers?
First, to make the teachers’ assumptions about learning explicit, so that they can examine them critically; it will help them to develop their own explicit ideas of how the kind of learners they are teaching acquire an L2.
Second, it will provide them with information that they can use when they make further pedagogical decisions.
It does not supply teachers with recipes for successful practice. It only provides teachers with ‘insights’ which they can use in building their own theory of language learning.
(Ellis, 2000:4)

3. Goals and objectives of ELTAM Research SIG:

• To present a forum for exchange of information among teachers interested in the field;
• To create an opportunity for the members to present their research work in an informal and encouraging environment
• To offer a different kind of teacher development;
• To attract teachers from different educational levels and with different professional experience so that the overall awareness of SLA developments among Macedonian EFL professionals could be expanded;
• To promote SLA knowledge and research methods for practical and scientific purposes;
• To stimulate examination of the SLA findings in Macedonian setting;
• To enhance the application of the knowledge of SLA in practice at all levels;

4. Projected course of action for ELTAM Research SIG:

a) Acquaintance of the members with the SLA topics, problems and research methods as well as other types of research in EFL methodology through:

• Presentations of books and theoretical papers by members and discussion of particular topics at regular meetings,
• Presentations by experts from Macedonia and from the region,
• Workshops with experts;

  b) Presentation of research work done by members;

  c) Participation by members at conferences and workshops;

  d) Organization of pre-conference workshops or conference colloquia/seminars for EFL research at ELTAM biannual conferences;

  e) Initiating SLA and other types of research projects carried out by the members;

  f) Creation of ELTAM Research SIG blog (with a link to ELTAM website);

  g) Compiling a glossary of terms and their Macedonian equivalents;

  h) Compiling a corpus of learner English by Macedonian learners of all ages available for use to all members who would like to do research into acquisition of English by Macedonian speakers;

Coordibnator:
          Liljana Mitkovska liljanam@mol.com.mk liljana55@yahoo.com

Secretary:
          Biljana Orovcanec borovcanec@gmail.com