• Vanhove Jan

Second Language Acquisition (SLA) is the field that studies how people learn languages in addition to their native language. In this MA seminar, you will become familiar with classic concepts, theories and findings in this field that are also of central importance in the academic discourse on multilingualism and language teaching. Additionally, you will further hone your skills in critically reading reports on quantitative research more generally.

This course is built around three interrelated topics central to the psycholinguistic investigation of second language acquisition: (1) the influence of the languages you already know on the acquisition of a new one; (2) developmental patterns (i.e., which aspects of the second language are acquired first and which only later?); and (3) the effectiveness of different types of learning and instruction. Four classes will be devoted to each of these topics.

We will not concern ourselves with drawing conclusions about ‘best practices’ for learning, teaching or raising children nor will we devote much attention to the role of age and social factors in language learning. If you are interested in these topics, you may want to consider taking the MA seminars on Socialisation plurilingue and Der Altersfaktor beim Spracherwerb (to name but these two) in addition to this course.

By the end of the seminar, students will have gained familiarity with the a selection of key concepts in second language acquistion (as described in the course contents). They will also have further honed their skills in reading and critiquing quantitative research reports.

Three ECTS are awarded for the successful completion of this course. Students requiring more ECTS need to ask a professor from their own department/programme if they can write a term paper with them on one of the topics covered in this course.

To earn three ECTS, students need to do the following:

• read the texts that are assigned weekly;
• take the class minutes at least once;
• hand in three smaller written assignments (max. 2 pages each) in the course of the semester.

Three ECTS are awarded for the successful completion of this course. Students requiring more ECTS need to ask a professor from their own department/programme if they can write a term paper with them on one of the topics covered in this course.

To earn three ECTS, students need to do the following:

• read the texts that are assigned weekly;
• take the class minutes at least once;
• hand in three smaller written assignments (max. 2 pages each) in the course of the semester.

Three ECTS are awarded for the successful completion of this course. Students requiring more ECTS need to ask a professor from their own department/programme if they can write a term paper with them on one of the topics covered in this course.

To earn three ECTS, students need to do the following:

• read the texts that are assigned weekly;
• take the class minutes at least once;
• hand in three smaller written assignments (max. 2 pages each) in the course of the semester.

Three ECTS are awarded for the successful completion of this course. Students requiring more ECTS need to ask a professor from their own department/programme if they can write a term paper with them on one of the topics covered in this course.

To earn three ECTS, students need to do the following:

• read the texts that are assigned weekly;
• take the class minutes at least once;
• hand in three smaller written assignments (max. 2 pages each) in the course of the semester.

Three ECTS are awarded for the successful completion of this course. Students requiring more ECTS need to ask a professor from their own department/programme if they can write a term paper with them on one of the topics covered in this course.

To earn three ECTS, students need to do the following:

• read the texts that are assigned weekly;
• take the class minutes at least once;
• hand in three smaller written assignments (max. 2 pages each) in the course of the semester.