230080 Social and Psychological Aspects of Language Learning (S) (SoSe 2016)

In this course we will consider internal or psychological factors as well as external or social factors which influence the success or failure of language learning. Internal factors vary with each learner and include personality, learning styles and preferred strategies, self-regulation, attitudes and beliefs. Some internal factors such as anxiety may vary according to situation. By external factors is meant the physical learning environment of the classroom, but also the fellow learners and the teacher as well as methods, materials and teaching style. Other external factors include exposure to and interaction in the language both inside and outside the classroom.

After two sessions of input by myself, students will be asked to present on a topic each week based on literature which will be provided on StudIP. Students should consult me personally in advance of preparing their presentation so that I can offer guidance. Students are now at an advanced stage and they may wish to supplement or replace the reading provided with other texts. This is not only possible but is positively welcomed. However, they should show me the texts in advance when they come to see me (do not just send them by e-mail) so that we can agree on what they are going to do. So that we can have constructive feedback and reflection following the presentation each week presentations should be kept reasonably short.

The seminar group as a whole should make themselves familiar with at least the basic reading on StudIP each week. These topics will be in part new to you and in part difficult, so that you cannot rely on just listening to the presentation 'cold' and hope to understand all its implications.

Literaturangaben

The texts for each weekly session will be available in advance of the course on StudIP. One or two of these texts will be labelled as basic reading. All participants should read these in advance of the session.

A good book relevant for many of the topics is:

Brown, H. D. (2007). Principles of Language Learning and Teaching. Fifth edition. White Plains, NY: Pearson/Longman.