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This course deals with key aspects of how human language is acquired by children, from infancy to adolescence. Selected topics in bilingual and second language development are also covered.
This course explores the psychology of language acquisition in infants, children and adults. With a focus on oral language development, and opportunities for hands-on experience of language acquisition research, it will explore what we know about how first language, bilingual language, and second language are acquired and what can both help and hinder those developments. How do we humans acquire languages? Why can we do this while other species cannot? Why can we acquire several languages in childhood but find it so much more difficult to acquire languages later in life? What helps us learn and what can hinder us? Does it matter what language we are acquiring? If we cease to use our languages will we lose them? What happens to language when there is brain damage? This course is relevant for pre-service and in-service teachers at all levels; those interested in becoming second/foreign language teachers or in improving their teaching practice; those in developmental psychology and/or linguistics; and those interested in entering clinical fields.
By the end of this course, students will have an understanding of:The paths of typical language development in children and adultsDifferences between learners and the possible impacts on language acquisitionThe prerequisites for successful language acquisitionThe causes and consequences of less successful acquisitionSome of the techniques for understanding language acquisition
LING101 or LING111 or ENGL123 or ENGL112 or relevant background in EDUC or EDED or PSYC with the approval of the Head of Department.
CMDS221, LING205
Susan Foster-Cohen
Rowland, Caroline; Understanding Child Language Acquisition ; Taylor and Francis, 2013.
Saville-Troike, Muriel,1936-; Introducing second language acquisition ; 2nd ed; Cambridge University Press, 2012 (3rd edition preferred).
Domestic fee $746.00
International fee $3,038.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .