Michael Swan (writer)
Encyclopedia
Michael Swan is a writer of English language teaching
and reference materials. Major publications include Practical English Usage and Basic English Usage (Oxford University Press). His most recent books are Grammar, an introductory book on why languages need grammar and what they do with it and, with David Baker, Grammar Scan (Oxford University Press), a collection of diagnostic language tests.
Michael Swan is also the co-author, with Catherine Walter, of How English Works and The Good Grammar Book (both with Oxford University Press
), and the New Cambridge English Course series (with Cambridge University Press
).
His interests include pedagogic grammar
, mother-tongue
influence in second language acquisition
, and the relationship between applied linguistic theory
and classroom language-teaching practice. He has written articles on all these topics, and is known for influential articles on the communicative approach and on task-based learning.
Michael Swan is also a widely published poet. His poems, some serious, some funny, all written in deceptively accessible language, have been published in several poetry magazines such as Acumen and The Frogmore Papers
as well as in more unexpected places like the BBC Wildlife
Magazine. His collection When They Come For You was published by the Frogmore Press in 2003. In 2005 he won The Times Stephen Spender Prize for poetry translation with his translation from the German of a section of Rilke
's 'Orpheus. Eurydice. Hermes.' He won The Poetry Society's 2010 Stanza Poetry Competition, with his poem I wasn't there.
English language learning and teaching
English as a second language , English for speakers of other languages and English as a foreign language all refer to the use or study of English by speakers with different native languages. The precise usage, including the different use of the terms ESL and ESOL in different countries, is...
and reference materials. Major publications include Practical English Usage and Basic English Usage (Oxford University Press). His most recent books are Grammar, an introductory book on why languages need grammar and what they do with it and, with David Baker, Grammar Scan (Oxford University Press), a collection of diagnostic language tests.
Michael Swan is also the co-author, with Catherine Walter, of How English Works and The Good Grammar Book (both with Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
), and the New Cambridge English Course series (with Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
).
His interests include pedagogic grammar
Pedagogical grammar
A pedagogical grammar is a modern approach in linguistics intended to aid in teaching an additional language. -Structure:This method of teaching is divided into the descriptive: grammatical analysis, and the prescriptive: the articulation of a set of rules...
, mother-tongue
First language
A first language is the language a person has learned from birth or within the critical period, or that a person speaks the best and so is often the basis for sociolinguistic identity...
influence in second language acquisition
Second language acquisition
Second-language acquisition or second-language learning is the process by which people learn a second language. Second-language acquisition is also the name of the scientific discipline devoted to studying that process...
, and the relationship between applied linguistic theory
Applied linguistics
Applied linguistics is an interdisciplinary field of study that identifies, investigates, and offers solutions to language-related real-life problems...
and classroom language-teaching practice. He has written articles on all these topics, and is known for influential articles on the communicative approach and on task-based learning.
Michael Swan is also a widely published poet. His poems, some serious, some funny, all written in deceptively accessible language, have been published in several poetry magazines such as Acumen and The Frogmore Papers
The Frogmore Papers
The Frogmore Papers is a bi-annual literary journal published in the United Kingdom.The Frogmore Papers are published by The Frogmore Press founded by Andre Evans and Jeremy Page at the Frogmore tea-rooms in Folkestone in 1983...
as well as in more unexpected places like the BBC Wildlife
BBC Wildlife
BBC Wildlife is a British glossy, all-colour, monthly magazine about wildlife, founded by BBC Worldwide and published through the BBC Magazines Bristol division, also trading as Bristol Magazines Ltd....
Magazine. His collection When They Come For You was published by the Frogmore Press in 2003. In 2005 he won The Times Stephen Spender Prize for poetry translation with his translation from the German of a section of Rilke
Rainer Maria Rilke
René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke , better known as Rainer Maria Rilke, was a Bohemian–Austrian poet. He is considered one of the most significant poets in the German language...
's 'Orpheus. Eurydice. Hermes.' He won The Poetry Society's 2010 Stanza Poetry Competition, with his poem I wasn't there.