Language acquisition

Aims

Aims

This module

• provides an overview of child first language acquisition, focusing on phonology and syntax;
• provides an overview of second language acquisition, focusing on phonology and syntax;
• introduces theories of first and second language acquisition.

Students should acquire:

• a basic understanding of the normal sequence of development in the areas of phonology and syntax;
• a knowledge of the techniques used in studying language development in both first and second language acquisition;
• an awareness of the relationship between language acquisition data and general issues of linguistic competence/performance, and of the importance of linguistic theory in developing accounts of language acquisition.

Students will practice the following skills during the module:

• Academic writing
• Analytic reasoning
• Understanding experiment design
• Reading and interpreting statistical data.

Programme

Programme

Contact hours

This module is divided into two distinct learning periods:

Weeks 2-5:  Introduction to key language acquisition topics through lectures.  You will have 4.5 contact hours per week during this period.

Weeks 6-10:  Consolidation of content introduced during Weeks 2-5, through informal student presentations on and discussion of assigned readings.  1.5 contact hours per week, excluding Reading Week, which will be used for independent work on formative assessment.

Teaching materials

A reading pack will be available. Additional handouts will be provided.

Assessment

Assessment

Formative work

• two short essays

Assessment

• two short essays