Teaching and Testing Second Language Pragmatics and Interaction

In this review of Teaching and Testing Second Language Pragmatics and Interaction, the bottom line is clear: this book is a practical, research-informed resource for instructors and assessment specialists who need targeted guidance on teaching and measuring pragmatic ability. Carsten Roever connects theory and empirical findings to classroom tasks, offering specific activities and testing suggestions that make the subject approachable for teachers and useful for graduate students. The book focuses mainly on English pragmatics but brings in examples from multiple languages, making it a solid bridge between academic research and everyday pedagogical practice.

Key Features

• Comprehensive survey: The book reviews current theory and empirical work so readers can understand the foundations of second language pragmatics.
• Practical tasks: It offers concrete classroom activities and test tasks that teachers can adapt for different proficiency levels.
• Assessment guidance: Roever provides strategies for measuring pragmatic ability, helping assessors design valid instruments.
• Cross-linguistic examples: While focused on English, the inclusion of examples from multiple languages illustrates broader applicability.
• Audience-focused writing: The text balances material for practicing teachers, graduate students, and researchers seeking applied recommendations.

Who It's For

This book is best for language teachers who want actionable classroom activities to teach pragmatics, assessment specialists designing pragmatic tasks, and graduate students researching applied pragmatics or language assessment. Its emphasis on bridging research and practice suits readers who need both conceptual background and ready-to-use materials.

Those looking for a beginner's general-methods textbook or a purely theoretical monograph may want a different title; this work assumes interest in applied pedagogy and testing and reads as a specialized reference rather than an introductory language-teaching primer.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Connects theory and practice so teachers can directly apply research findings in lesson design.
• Includes specific tasks and activities that can be adapted across proficiency levels.
• Offers clear guidance for assessing pragmatic ability, useful for classroom and research assessment.

Cons

• Primary focus on English pragmatics may limit direct relevance for teachers working exclusively with other languages.

Specifications

Title	Teaching and Testing Second Language Pragmatics and Interaction
Author	Carsten Roever
Series	Second Language Acquisition Research Series
Subject	Second language pragmatics, teaching, and assessment
Audience	Practicing teachers, graduate students, researchers
Language focus	Mainly English with examples from other languages

Our Verdict

For instructors and assessment professionals who need a focused, research-backed manual on teaching and testing pragmatic competence, this book delivers solid value by pairing scholarly overview with practical tasks. It is a worthwhile purchase for those who will apply the activities or develop assessment instruments, though readers seeking a broad introductory methods text should consider complementary resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book include classroom tasks?
Yes. It includes practical tasks and activities designed for different proficiency levels that teachers can adapt.

Is the content only about English?
The focus is mainly on English pragmatics, but the book includes relevant examples from multiple languages to illustrate wider points.

Who benefits most from this book?
Practicing language teachers, assessment designers, and graduate students in language pedagogy and assessment will gain the most practical use from it.