Language Acquisition 3223-AMMS-LA
The course will serve as a general introduction to the study of first and second language acquisition. Through the topics explored, students will become familiar with aspects and issues of diversity in societies, including socio-linguistic factors, ethnicity and gender attitudes. The module also provides a comprehensive overview of relevant aspects of bilingualism and multilingualism development by both children and adults, including cases of children learning a minority or heritage language as well as first language attrition. Various factors that influence the acquisition process will be discussed, such as age, language environment, cognitive functions, social context, motivation and language aptitude.
Subjects:
Main theories of First Language Acquisition.
Age factor in First Language Acquisition.
Psychological, sociocultural and linguistic factors in First Language Acquisition.
Main theories of Second Language Learning.
Third language acquisition.
The early development of bi-/multilingualism.
Factors affecting the development of bi-/multilingualism.
Bringing up a bi-/multilingual child.
Adult bi-/multilingualism.
Advantages and disadvantages of being a bi-/multilingual speaker.
Didactic methods: debates, case studies, presentations, projects
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
The graduate knows and understands:
— Key theories and stages of first and second language acquisition across the lifespan.
— Sociolinguistic factors influencing language acquisition, including ethnicity, gender attitudes,
and language environments.
— The processes and challenges related to bilingualism, multilingualism, heritage language
maintenance, and first language attrition.
— Cognitive, social, and motivational factors that impact language learning and development.
The graduate is able to:
— Identify and explain key differences and similarities between first and second language
acquisition.
— Analyse how sociocultural and individual variables affect language learning outcomes.
— Evaluate the development of bilingual and multilingual competence in both children and
adults.
— Apply theoretical knowledge to real-world language learning contexts, including minority
and heritage language situations.
Assessment criteria
Assessment:
Active participation and tasks: 20%
Final assignment (project and quiz): 80%
Grading scale:
over 91% – 5
90%-81% – 4+
80%-71% – 4
70%-61% – 3+
60%- 51% – 3
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: