ALM4250

Second Language Acquisition

(ART)

TBA

12 points + Second Semester + OCDL and Clayton + 2 hours per week

Synopsis: This unit introduces students to the study of second language acquisition and attrition. The relation between first and second language acquisition; learning/acquisition contexts; foreign language learning vs second language acquisition; contrastive and error analysis; interlanguage; learner variability - age, aptitude, cognitive styles, attitude and motivation; theories of second language acquisition; learning strategies; classroom interaction analysis; implications for curriculum content; and attrition as the inverse of acquisition. Students work on problems in a language of interest to them.

Assessment: Minor assignment (2500 words): 25% + Major assignment (4500 words): 50% + Open-book test (2 hours): 25% + Students taking the unit at 4th year will not be expected to display the grasp of advanced concepts which is required of ALM5250 students, and in particular will not be expected to have the strong grounding in general linguistics which is assumed in ALM5250.