Accessibility statement

Bilingualism - LAN00025H

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  • Department: Language and Linguistic Science
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Tamar Keren-Portnoy
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22

Related modules

Pre-requisite modules

Co-requisite modules

  • None

Prohibited combinations

  • None

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2021-22 to Summer Term 2021-22

Module aims

This module will provide a review of bilingual development. Some of the issues to be considered are:

  • the controversy over one system vs. two in simultaneous bilingual acquisition
  • the relation between bilingualism and cognitive processing
  • code-switching in children and in adults
  • the dynamic nature of bilingualism over the lifespan

Through a combination of lectures, readings and student presentations you will become acquainted with the findings of both individual case studies and group studies of bilingual children. We will consider some of the main theoretical issues involved. By the end of the module you should have a good understanding of the variability in bilingual development and language use and of the complex, often controversial questions surrounding cognitive and linguistic aspects of bilingualism, and you should have gained the ability to critically evaluate some of the issues involved.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of the module the student should:

  • be familiar with the findings of both case studies and group studies of bilingual children and adults
  • have a good understanding of the complex questions surrounding bilingualism
  • be able to critically evaluate some of the issues involved in bilingualism research

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 60
Open Exam (7-day week)
Open Exam		 N/A 40

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay		 N/A 60
Open Exam (7-day week)
Open Exam		 N/A 40

Module feedback

Written feedback and mark on University scale within 20 working days of submission.

Indicative reading

Library reading list available on VLE.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.