Course Description
Linguistic theories of second language acquisition, with emphasis on the acquisition of English. Topics include order of acquisition, sociocultural factors with linguistic bases, and neurolinguistic models.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be responsible for a more extensive syllabus and for a more sophisticated understanding of course materials, reflected in examinations and papers.
Athena Title
Second Language Acquisition
Prerequisite
ENGL 3030 or ENGL 4110/6110 or LING 2100
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
At the end of the course, students will be able to explain the major theories of second language acquisition, to discuss those theories in relation to psycho- linguistic and sociolinguistic research, to apply principles of phonemic, morphemic, syntactic, semantic, and discourse analysis studies to specific problems and challenges of second language acquisition, and to understand important pedagogical principles that derive from SLA analysis.
Topical Outline
The topics will consist of selected readings on the major perspectives on second language acquisition, both in formal and informal environments, morphophonemic and syntactic/semantic theories of language acquisition orders, social factors affecting second language acquisition, including the processes of pidginization and creolization, and cognitive science theories relating to second language acquisition, including neurolinguistic and information processing models. Specific topics vary by instructor and at different times. Periodically during the semester, students will perform a number of graded tasks, including some combination of tests and out-of-class papers. In-class exams and the final exam will require essays as well as objective questions and problems. Substantial out-of-class writing will be required, including essay responses to problems amounting to c. 20 pages over the course of the term.