GRN3135 - Second Language Acquisition and Attrition

Leader: Heinz Kreutz and Ana Deumert

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

Issues to be covered include the distinction between language learning and acquisition; the social context of these; the relation between first, second and bilingual acquisition; interlanguage and interface; grammaticalisation phases; factors in successful second language acquisition; bilingual education; field work; attrition as the inverse of acquisition; activation and reactivation of language skills. In the tutorial the acquisition and learning of German will be discussed.

Assessment

Essay (2000 words): 40%
Research exercise (500 words): 10%
Three class tests (40 minutes each): 40%
Class paper (400 words): 10%
Third year students will be expected to read more widely than second-year students.

Contact hours

2 hours (1 lecture and 1 seminar) per week

Co-requisites

A third-year language unit

Prohibitions

GRN2135, LIN2550 or LIN3550