In this book Professor Widdowson provides a timely critical review of the most prominent issues in language teaching today. Part 1 presents the case for the relevance of theoretical enquiry to classroom practice. Parts two and three serve to demonstrates this relevance by showing how different perspectives on linguistic description lead to different approaches to the teaching of language. At a time of wideranging debate about language teaching, particularly in the broader contexts of educational principle and policy, the force and authority of Professor Widdowson's arguments will be welcomed by all those concerned to uphold professional standards in language teaching and teacher education.