LANGUAGE ACQUISION
- Course
- ELTE208 - LANGUAGE ACQUISION
- Department
- English Language Teaching - English - Master
- Course Type
- Scientific Preparation
- Status
- Required
- Language
- English
- Credit
- 0
- ECTS
- 0
- T+P+L
- 2 + 0 + 0
- Course Coordinator(s)
- -
- Prerequisite
- -
- Keywords
- -
Course Description
This course presents an overview of the theories of first and second language acquisition (e.g.: behaviorism, innatism, information processing, connectionism, the interactionist position) and focuses on the developmental stages and sequences of first and target language acquisition. Case studies, comparative analysis of the use of native and target languages in corpus data (e.g.: CHILDES database), recordings and/or transcriptions of real second language classroom interaction will be employed for the analysis of first and second language acquisition; comparison of second language acquisition in children and in adults; identifying developmental sequences in first language acquisition; stages in second language morpho-syntactic development; processes in second language acquisition; learner characteristics and individual variation in ultimate attainment in second language acquisition (e.g.: role of personality, language aptitude, intelligence, age of acquisition, motivation and attitudes, learner preferences and beliefs); differences between second language acquisition and foreign language learning contexts (e.g.: natural vs. instructional settings). Lectures, group and pair work activities will be utilized.
LANGUAGE ACQUISION
Evaluation Tools (Active Term)
No evaluation items have been defined.
Course outcomes
- 01 Evaluate the various thepretical underpinnings of first langauge acquisition
- 02 Discuss the theories of second language acquisition in relation to teaching English
- 03 Interpret features of language acquisition in the language performance of learners.
Course Syllabus
| Week | Topic |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction to language learning: learner characteristics and learning conditions |
| Week 2 | Language Learning in Early Childhood |
| Week 3 | Language Learning in Early Childhood |
| Week 4 | Second Language Learning: CAH, Error analysis, interlanguage and developmental sequences |
| Week 5 | Explaining Second Language Learning |
| Week 6 | Explaining Second Language Learning |
| Week 7 | Quiz (23/03/2026) |
| Week 8 | Mid-term Exams |
| Week 9 | Mid-term Exams |
| Week 10 | Individual Differences in Second Language Learning |
| Week 11 | Individual Differences in Second Language Learning |
| Week 12 | Observing learning and teaching in the second language classroom |
| Week 13 | SLL in the classroom: Reflective paper and presentation |
| Week 14 | SLL in the classroom: Reflective paper and presentation |
| Week 15 | SLL in the classroom: Reflective paper and presentation |
Reference Books & Course Materials
- 01 Lightbown, P. M. and Spada, N. (2013). How Languages are Learned. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Learning Outcomes
No learning outcomes have been defined.
Program Outcomes
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