ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by offering a variety of definitions of service-learning, as well as briefly outlining the history of this educational practice. This chapter discusses the advantages of service-learning in second language acquisition (SLA), as well as some of the challenges in establishing programs that integrate service-learning into their curriculum. This chapter looks at current studies that establish a connection between service-learning and oral proficiency, intercultural competence, critical language, lexical variation applied to SLA, pre-service teacher programs, language for specific purposes (LSP), and study abroad (SA). Following this comprehensive review of current research, the authors describe how service-learning can be used to address the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages established by the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL): communication, cultures, communities, connections, and comparisons. The final sections of this chapter outline recommendations for practice, as well as discuss future directions in research and practice.
