LN3008: FIRST AND SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION (2019-2020)

Last modified: 25 Sep 2019 09:58

Course Overview

This course provides a general introduction to theories and approaches in first and second language acquisition and introduces students to research in the field. In particular, the course provides students with an understanding of Universal Grammar (UG), behaviourism, interactionism, and frequency-based perspectives of language acquisition. Internal and external factors that influence the course of first and second language development are explored.

This course utilises a flipped classroom model, which means that students get first exposure to new material outside of class (via lecture videos and reading) and use class time to do the harder work of assimilating the knowledge.

Course Details

Study Type	Undergraduate	Level	3
Term	First Term	Credit Points	30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus	Aberdeen	Sustained Study	No
Co-ordinators	Dr Agni Connor

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

One of Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5
One of LN2003 Words and Meanings: Lexis and Semantics (Passed) or LN2005 Varieties of English (Passed) or LN2008 Language in Society (Passed) or LN2301 Sounds of English (Passed) or LN2505 Morphology and Syntax (Passed) or LN2508 Language in Society (Passed) or LN2509 Varieties of English (Passed)
Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

LN3502 First and Second Language Acquisition (Passed)

Are there a limited number of places available?

Course Description

Course Aims

This course aims to give students:
1. an in-depth understanding of the way in which children and adults develop first and second language in different learning contexts
2. a critical understanding of similarities and differences between first language acquisition in childhood, second language acquisition in childhood and second language acquisition in adulthood
3. an understanding of how various aspects of language (phonology, morphology, lexis, syntax and pragmatics) are learned
4. an opportunity to critically evaluate a range of theories of first and second language acquisition using authentic language data and the existing research

Main Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students will:
1. critically analyse the way in which children and adults develop first and second language in different learning contexts
2. identify similarities and differences between first language acquisition in childhood, second language acquisition in childhood and second language acquisition in adulthood
3. compare and evaluate a range of theories of first and second language acquisition using authentic language data and the existing research
4. relate the existing research in second language learning to teaching practice in classrooms
5. identify ethical and methodological challenges in the existing research
6. identify gaps and issues for future research

Course Content

This course provides a general introduction to theories and approaches in first and second language acquisition and introduces students to research in the field. In particular, the course provides students with an understanding of Universal Grammar (UG), behaviourism, interactionism, and frequency-based perspectives of language acquisition. Internal and external factors that influence the course of first and second language development are explored. The roles of learner factors such as age, first language, and other individual difference variables are briefly discussed. The application of second language acquisition theory and research to aspects of second language teaching is also explored. The questions explored in class include, for example, how children go from babbling to one-word sentences to the full complexity of adult grammar in a span of merely a few years, how the brains of individuals who learn two languages simultaneously differ from those who learn a second language later on in life, and how using a second language can influence the way we use our native language.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers

Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

There are no assessments for this course.

Formative Assessment