Reflections on a Career in Second Language Studies: Promising Pathways for Future Research

Abstract

This article highlights a series of areas deemed worthy of attention by L2 researchers. In some cases the research effort would entail following up on studies initiated some years ago and in other cases the effort would involve relatively new research thrusts. The article includes ideas about research regarding: (1) "pathways to success in language learning"--language learners as informed consumers, the role of motivation in the L2-FL interface, orchestrating the inner voice for learning the L2, the impact of L2/FL error correction, the utilization and impact of websites accessed in support of language learning, and avoiding language attrition; (2) "language learner strategies"--the fluctuating functions of strategies, fine-tuning strategies for language learning, the language strategies of hyperpolyglots, and test-taking strategies; and (3) "the teaching and learning of L2 pragmatics"--attention to the less researched speech acts, the effects of explicit instruction in pragmatics, the learning of pragmatics in the L2 classroom from native- and nonnative teachers, and the teaching of pragmatics in World Englishes.