EDUC 4863: Acquisition of Language

(also cross listed as EDUC 5183 for graduate students)

Course Description

This 3 credit-hour course will focus on the question of how languages are learned. Theories of acquisition and research based around these theories have had an impact on how teachers have approached second language teaching historically. We will examine the major theoretical schools of thought on acquisition and the bodies of research that have developed around them. The overall objective of the course is to provide you with a firm theoretical grounding upon which well informed decisions about methodological issues can be made.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, you will be able to

• Discuss major influences on the field of Second Language Acquisition (SLA)
• Discuss the effects that various factors have on SLA (e.g. Age, Psychological, Socio-cultural, Linguistic)
• Critique and compare major theories of SLA
• Use this knowledge to make informed decisions about how you can teach your students in your situation most effectively

Prerequisites: You must meet the admission requirements of Acadia University and have demonstrated some undergraduate course experience.

Instructional Hours: 36