ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on constructs and knowledge types frequently dealt with in the SLA literature. It begins with the overall construct of information processing, and within that category we deal with automaticity and restructuring. An underlying assumption in looking at SLA from the perspective of these two concepts is that human beings have a limited capacity for processing. Central to the ability to process information is the ability to attend to, deal with, and organize new information. There is empirical evidence to support the benefits of planning as it affects the complexity of the discourse. Controlled processing is yet another mechanism of language use. With controlled processing, the associations have not been built up by repeated use. There have been a number of studies considering the role of attention and awareness in language learning, with most showing a connection between awareness and learning.
