Last modified: 28 Jun 2018 10:27
How children and adults learn language has been the topic of much debate within linguistics. This course will focus on some of the main theories of language learning and introduce students to research in first and second language acquisition. It will answer questions such as: when do children first start learning language? How do they go from babbling to one word sentences to the full complexity of adult grammar in a span of merely a few years? How do the brains of people who learn two languages simultaneously differ from those who learn a second language later on in life?
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | None. | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
|
||
How children and adults learn language has been the topic of much debate within linguistics. This course will focus on some of the main theories of language learning and introduce students to research in first and second language acquisition. It will focus on a number of aspects of language acquisition including the following. What processes take place when children learn their first language? How do they go from babbling to one-word sentences to the full complexity of adult grammar in a span of merely a few years? How do the brains of people who learn two languages simultaneously differ from those who learn a second language later on in life? What are some of the causes of the speech errors we find in second language learners? Why are some learners better at learning languages than others – what factors influence second language acquisition? The course will also focus on common misconceptions in relation to both first and second language acquisition.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (50%) and in-course assessment: one 2,000-2,500 word essay (30%), seminar work (10%), group presentation (10%).
Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).
Students will be given the opportunity of finding out how well they have performed in seminars as an ongoing feature of the learning process.
Feedback on essays will be provided in writing on the essay cover sheet. Students will also be invited to discuss their performance with their tutor.
Both the Group Project and the Seminar Assessment Mark will be made available to students along with a generally brief written report from the tutor. Students will also be encouraged to speak with the tutor about this assessment.
The examination will take place after the course is completed. Students may, however, ask for an oral report on their performance.
We have detected that you are have compatibility mode enabled or are using an old version of Internet Explorer. You either need to switch off compatibility mode for this site or upgrade your browser.
