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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2019/2020

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences : Language Sciences

Postgraduate Course: Second Language Acquisition (LASC11014)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe aim of this course is to give an introduction to current research on second language acquisition (SLA) by reviewing key issues, concepts, findings and theories and provide the opportunity to critically evaluate models and theories of SLA by applying them to the analysis of second language data.
Course description This course introduces students to the principal findings, models, and research methods in the field of second language acquisition. The course surveys general issues such as the role of the native language, the effects on the second language on the first, universals, age, input and interaction and processing, as well as characteristics of the acquisition of phonology, lexicon, and syntax in second language learners. The empirical component of the course provides students with experience in designing and carrying out studies in second language acquisition.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2019/20, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 27, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 167 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Critical review (40%)
Mini research project (60%)
Feedback A1: a) Students will be given a sample review that follows the format requirements and content expectations along with the assignment instructions. b) Useful perspectives on critical evaluation of the relevant articles will be addressed in paper discussions during tutorials.

A2: a) Students will be asked to orally present their ideas in front of the class and given feedback from the instructors and classmates. b) Supervision meetings will be arranged with the course organizer prior to the submission.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. understand the basic issues in second language acquisition (SLA) including: individual differences in SLA; age effects on SLA; the role of the native language in SLA; the initial state and end state of second language grammar; native language attrition and child second language learning
  2. analyse learner data using the concepts and models taught in the course
Reading List
Doughty, C. and Long, M. (Eds.). (2003). The handbook of second language acquisition. Oxford: Blackwell.

Gass, S., & Selinker, L. (2008). Second language acquisition: An introductory course. New York: Taylor and Francis.

Herschensohn, J. & Young-Scholten, M. (Eds.). (2013). The Cambridge handbook of second language acquisition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information Attend all lectures as scheduled
Keywordssecond language learning,language,cognition
Contacts
Course organiserProf Antonella Sorace
Tel: (0131 6)50 3493
Email: A.Sorace@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Toni Noble
Tel: (0131 6)51 3188
Email: Toni.noble@ed.ac.uk
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