Research Interests

My primary area of investigation is second language (L2) acquisition (click here for description of field). My specific research interests include second language vocabulary acquisition; lexical input processing; processing resource allocation; effects of acoustic variability on vocabulary learning and word processing; the bilingual mental lexicon; and psycholinguistic approaches to other issues in L2 acquisition.

My current projects focus on partial word form learning in second languages, effects of acoustic variability on L2 vocabulary learning, and the relationship between L2 vocabulary learning and the representation of form and meaning in the bilingual mind.                                          

Input-based Incremental Vocabulary Instruction

One practical outcome of research related to lexical input processing, processing resource allocation, and L2 vocabulary learning has been the development of the input-based incremental (IBI) approach to L2 vocabulary instruction (e.g., Barcroft, 2004, 2006). The IBI approach places strong emphasis on presenting target words frequently in the input and allowing learners to process new word forms as input without requiring them to elaborate extensively on the meaning of the words or to produce the words as output without access to meaning (e.g., via copying or repeating words). After learners have had sufficient opportunity to process new word forms as input in meaning-oriented contexts, the IBI approach advocates focusing on developing knowledge of word meanings and collocations that are specific to the L2 and that do not overlap or overlap to a lesser degree with corresponding words from one’s first language.