The implicit/ explicit distinction is central to our understanding of the nature of L2 acquisition. This book begins with an account of how this distinction applies to L2 learning, knowledge and instruction. It then reports a series of studies describing the development of a battery of tests providing relatively discrete measurements of L2 explicit/ implicit knowledge. These tests were then utilized to examine a number of key issues in SLA - the learning difficulty of different grammatical structures, the role of L2 implicit/ explicit knowledge in language proficiency, the relationship between learning experiences and learners’ language knowledge profiles, the metalinguistic knowledge of teacher trainees and the effects of different types of form-focused instruction on L2 acquisition. The book concludes with a consideration of how the tests can be further developed and applied in the study of L2 acquisition.

Part 1: Introduction

Chapter 1 Implicit and Explicit Learning, Knowledge and Instruction - Rod Ellis

Part 2: The Measurement of Implicit and Explicit Knowledge

Chapter 2 Defining and Measuring Implicit and Explicit Knowledge of a Second Language - Rod Ellis

Chapter 3 Elicited Oral Imitation as a Measure of Implicit Knowledge - Rosemary Erlam

Chapter 4 Grammaticality Judgement Tests and the Measurement of Implicit and Explicit L2 Knowledge - Shawn Loewen

Chapter 5 Validating a Metalinguistic Test - Catherine Elder

Part 3: Applying the Measures of Implicit and Explicit Knowledge

Chapter 6 Investigating Learning Difficulty as Implicit and Explicit Knowledge - Rod Ellis

Chapter 7 Implicit and Explicit Knowledge of an L2 and Language Proficiency - Catherine Elder

Chapter 8 Pathways to Proficiency: Learning Experiences and Attainment in Implicit and Explicit Knowledge of English as a Second Language - Jenefer Philp

Chapter 9 Exploring the Metalinguistic Knowledge of Teacher Trainees - Rosemary Erlam, Jenefer Philp and Catherine Elder

Part 4: Form-focused Instruction and the Acquisition of Implicit and Explicit Knowledge

Chapter 10 The Roles of Output-based and Input-based Instruction in the Acquisition of L2 Implicit and Explicit Knowledge - Rosemary Erlam, Shawn Loewen and Jenefer Philp

Chapter 11 The Incidental Acquisition of 3rd Person –s as L2 Implicit and Explicit Knowledge - Shawn Loewen, Rosemary Erlam and Rod Ellis

Chapter 12 The Effects of Two Types of Input on the Acquisition of L2 Implicit and Explicit Knowledge - Hayo Reinders and Rod Ellis

Chapter 13 Implicit and Explicit Corrective Feedback and the Acquisition of L2 Grammar - Rod Ellis, Shawn Loewen and Rosemary Erlam

Part 5: Conclusion

Chapter 14 Retrospect and Prospect - Rod Ellis