The collection begins with an introduction to the theories surrounding second language acquisition, namely how learners acquire a second language and what factors can improve and assist the learning process. Chris Holfester examines common instructional methods of teaching ESL and the ongoing debate as to which process is most effective. Noelle Vance contributes to the conversation with a discussion of the affective variables – emotions, attitudes, beliefs, and motivation – that impact second language acquisition. Vance then looks at communicative competence theory, which examines the influences that affect a person’s ability to communicate effectively. Vance continues her review of instructional methods with two approaches to teaching ESL: writing assessments and peer response techniques. Language barriers can often make the peer response method difficult for second language learners, but with the proper training these students can benefit from improved verbal and written language skills and increased audience awareness. While writing assessments for second language learners can present additional problems that compromise the fair assessment of a student’s writing skills and language proficiency, they nevertheless can be an effective instructional method for students.