Language Acquisition 4101-2WWAJAO

The lecture aims to equip students with the knowledge of basic theories and concepts of first and second language acquisition and foreign language learning, individual variables affecting success and failure, teacher-related factors influencing the rate and the route of language education and the organizational and curricular constraints as well as of new tendencies in the European language policy, applied linguistics and language teaching. Linguistic, psychological, sociological and pedagogical aspects are integrated in the presentation of the following topics covered in the course of two lectures each:

1.Language. Interaction. Communication ( language competences and language skill ),
2.First language acquisition ( stages in language development, factors influencing the process, implications for second language acquisition and learning,
3.Second language acquisition ( the concept of first, second and foreign language learning, the concept of acquisition and learning, bilingualism, plurilingualism, multilingualism).
4.Learning theories, language learning theories ( audiolingualism, cognitivism,constructivism ). Conventional and unconventional language teaching methods
5.Biological factors influencing second and foreign language learning styles ( age, modality, lateralization, gender.)
6.Cognitive learner variables in language acquisition and learning ( IQ, cognitive styles )
7.Affective learner variables in language acquisition and learning.( motivation, attitudes, anxiety, self-esteem, extroversion\introversion, risk-taking\risk avoiding )
8.Success and failure in language learning ( overview of research in Poland and abroad )
9.Course planning and syllabus design ( educational objectives, types of syllabus documents, specifications ).
10.Language testing.( test typology, test characteristics, alternative assessment ).
11.Language teachers and language teaching.( teacher's roles, teaching styles and strategies )
12.Language learners and language learning( language learning strategies, learner's behaviour, classroom management )
13.Classroom interaction and communication ( natural communication vs classroom communication, developing communicative competence, classroom discourse )
14.Approaches to error ( sources and types of error , error prevention and therapy )
15.Language teaching and learning in the educational system ( European and local language policy, language teaching in the educational system, new tendencies )

Course requirements are based on the students' portfolio of up to three components per semester's including an individual profile of language learning, a critical discussion of selected research articles and an analysis of teachers' and learners' activities at lessons.