The course will introduce students to what is known about how languages are learned. We will first look briefly at the stages children go through in acquiring their first language and review the major theories which attempt to account for this remarkable achievement. We will then look at how the theories of first language acquisition are reflected in the multitude of second language acquisition theories, briefly touching on the Monitor Hypothesis, Comprehensible Output Hypothesis and Input Processing, for example. We will also consider what makes a language learner successful, looking at factors such as intelligence, aptitude and age. We will then reflect on the idea of language learner language. In the middle of the semester, we will analyse different classroom settings, language errors, different types of corrective feedback and teacher questions. As the course draws to a close we will consider the implications of what we have learned for language teaching in schools, examining six different approaches of teaching English as a foreign language.
It is recommended that this course be taken after Linguistics I and II in BM3 for students of the Studienmodell 2011.
Students will be required to buy the course book:
Lightbown, P. & Spada N. (2013). How Languages are Learned. 4th edition. Oxford. OUP.
Frequency | Weekday | Time | Format / Place | Period | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
weekly | Mi | 8:30-10 (s.t.) | U2-119 | 08.04.-19.07.2013
not on: 5/1/13 |
Module | Course | Requirements | |
---|---|---|---|
23-ANG-AngBM3 Basismodul 3: Linguistics/Language Acquisition | BM 3.3:Second Language Acquisition | Student information | |
- | Ungraded examination | Student information |
The binding module descriptions contain further information, including specifications on the "types of assignments" students need to complete. In cases where a module description mentions more than one kind of assignment, the respective member of the teaching staff will decide which task(s) they assign the students.
Degree programme/academic programme | Validity | Variant | Subdivision | Status | Semester | LP | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anglistik: British and American Studies / Bachelor | (Enrollment until SoSe 2011) | Kern- und Nebenfach | BaAngPM7 | Pflicht | 4. 5. | 3 | benotet |
Anglistik: British and American Studies / Master of Education | (Enrollment until SoSe 2014) | BaAngPM7 | Pflicht | 2 | unbenotet | ||
Anglistik: British and American Studies (GHR) / Master of Education | (Enrollment until SoSe 2014) | BaAngPM7 | Pflicht | 2 | unbenotet |
In this course all students are expected to work on small-scale, empirical research projects in small groups. Results of these studies will be presented on posters. The Modulabschlussprüfung for BM3 is an online exam which can be taken during the semester break.