Prospectus

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Topics in Latin American Linguistics TK5

Course
2024-2025

Admission requirements

Students need to have completed the Propedeuse in Latin American Studies. This course can be followed by students in both tracks Spanish and Portuguese.
Non major students who want to take this course should contact the lecturer.

Description

This course aims to foster interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approaches to the study of linguistic research in a Latin American setting. Students will read original papers which adopt diverse theoretical and methodological perspectives in exploring a wide range of current linguistic issues. The course will reveal the rich dimensions of language diversity in Latin America and will bring new insights into the manner in which human languages work.
Subject areas of study include, but are not limited to:

  • Second language acquisition

  • Language contact phenomena (for ex. between Quechua and Spanish),

  • Tense and aspect variation in Spanish/Portuguese

  • Code-switching between Spanish/Portuguese and other languages

  • Educational policies of minority and major languages

  • Heritage languages

Course objectives

At the end of this course, students should have acquired a deep knowledge of the key topics surrounding linguistic research in Latin America that will allow them to compare and evaluate current research trends.

Soft skills

  • Problem solving (recognizing and analyzing problems, solution-oriented thinking)

  • Analytical thinking (analytical skills, abstraction, proof)

  • Responsibility (ownership, self-discipline, responsible attitude towards own project, acknowledging errors)

  • Commitment (dedication, motivation, proactive attitude, own initiative)

  • Self-regulation (independence, insight into one's own goals, motives and capacities)

  • Oral communication (presenting, speaking skills, listening)

  • Written communication (writing skills, reporting, structuring, summarizing)

  • Working together (teamwork, support, loyalty, fulfilling agreements, attendance)

  • Flexibility (dealing with changes, eagerness to learn, adaptability)

  • Critical thinking (asking questions, checking assumptions)

  • Creative thinking (resourcefulness, curiosity, out of the box thinking)

  • Integrity (honesty, morality, ethical conduct, personal values)

  • Intercultural skills (communication with different cultures)

Timetable

My Timetable

Mode of instruction

Lectures and Seminars

Assessment method

Assessment

  • Presentations 50%

  • Assignments 50%

Weighing

The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average.

Resit

Individual paper for all parts (100%)

Inspection and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Reading list

To be announced on Brightspace.

Registration

Enrolment through My Studymap is mandatory.

General information about uSis is available on this website

Contact

  • For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.

  • For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Reuvensplaats

Remarks

Minimum 80% attendance required. Students who do not meet this requirement will not have their assigments, presentation or paper corrected.
Students are expected to come to class prepared and ready to participate in class discussion. All readings assigned for the week must be done prior to class. Every student is expected to contribute to class discussion through oral questions and comments every class. In order to facilitate class discussion, students will write a response to the weekly readings.
A detailed class syllabus will be provided on the first day of class.