This encyclopedia of language teaching and learning is an authoritative handbook dealing with all aspects of this field of study. It has been produced specifically for language teaching professionals, but can also be used as a general reference work for academic studies at a postgraduate level. A comprehensive range of articles on contemporary language teaching and its history are included. Themes covered include the following: methods and materials; assessment and testing; contexts and concepts; influential figures; and related disciplines such as psychology, anthropology, and sociolinguistics. It covers the teaching of languages in particular countries and deals with a wide range of specific languages including Japanese, Chinese and Arabic as well as English, French, German, and Spanish. There are 35 overview articles dealing with issues such as communicative language teaching; early language teaching; teacher education; and syllabus and curriculum design. Further, 160 entries focus on topics such as bilingualism, language laboratories, and study abroad. Numerous shorter items look at cultural institutions, professional associations, and acronyms. Multiple cross references enable the user to browse from one entry to another, and there are suggestions for further reading. The encyclopedia is in alphabetical order with detailed thematic content lists and a substantial index. (KFT)