'With a little help from my friends'? Theory of learning in applied linguistics and SLA

Theory of learning is still a contested area in applied linguistics, particularly so in the field of Second Language Acquisition. As a sociocultural framework is gradually gaining momentum, it is time to move towards a deeper understanding. More specifically, it may be time to discuss our conceptions fo Vygotsky in this context. Did his emphasis on social context exclude the role of indicvidual learners, or can his multi-plane approach be ueseful for understanding even cognitive or neurological aspects of learning? This article argues that a more considerate, and less confrontational understanding of Vygotsky may reopen several controversial issues for investigation and discussion, and simultaneously shed new light on issues that have been marginalized as new theoretical perspectives have replaced older ones