230285 Language Learner Language and Language Learning Processes (S) (WiSe 2005/2006)

This course assumes that students have already taken the course "Introduction to Second Language Acquisition", which functions as an introduction to Profile Module 7. It will build on the introductory course and look in more detail both at the linguistic product of learners when attempting to speak and write English and also at the psycholinguistic processes which underlie learners' linguistic product. The point of departure will be error analysis and interlanguage theory, familiar to students from the introductory course. In this course we will look also at systematic and non-systematic variation in learner language, at the relation between linguistic knowledge and linguistic performance, at automatisation and restructuring processes, at speech planning processes, at trade-offs between accuracy and fluency, at strategies of learning and of communication. Consideration will be given to the units of lexical processing, especially units which transcend the word. We will also pay special attention to lexical compensation strategies. Attention will also be devoted to the role of monitoring in production and to self-correction. At all times we will be considering the implications of our discussion for classroom language teaching.

Students will be asked to prepare short presentations on various topics with a partner and will have the opportunity to consult the teacher in advance of their presentation, who will offer help with any problems they may have.