This article deals with modelling and specificity in K-12 teacher education to describe an approach in ESL/EFL teaching which is aimed at assisting teachers in bridging the gap between declarative and procedural knowledge while addressing the complex requirements of their learners. It is concluded that descriptions of language variation across communication contexts, corpus-based descriptive grammar, and sociocultural learning theory can be used to provide a specific map that bridges pedagogical theory and language classroom practice and social institution. [This paper was also presented at the Conference on Problems in Language Teaching (Kirov, Russia, February 14-15, 2007).]