Admission requirements
To be able to enter this MA course you need a basic knowledge of phonology and syntax.
Description
In this course we will explore the linguistic and psychological aspects of first and second language acquisition (SLA) during childhood. Moreover, we will look at a wide range of issues central to the understanding of the complex nature of the bilingual mind. We will compare the language input of monolingual and bilingual language learners and investigates how the monolingual and the multi-language user represent and process linguistic information.
We focus in particular on heritage languages and language users in the EU. Heritage speakers are exposed to the heritage language during the so-called “sensitive periods” of acquisition in some linguistic areas or domains. For heritage language users, the length, manner and amount of exposure to the home language may not be continual and this fact has consequences for the linguistic system.
A selection of key articles on the study of bilingualism in general and on the study of heritage language acquisition and maintenance in particular will be discussed. As part of the course, each student will have to formulate his or her own research question, formulate relevant hypotheses and design a small experiment that – time permitting – could be conducted with real speakers.
Course objectives
To learn to read and interpret the relevant literature;
To understand the most relevant theories;
To learn to collect and process empirical data on early language acquisition;
To write critically on your own and other people’s research.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
- Seminar
Assessment method
Assessment
Oral presentations 30%
Course Paper 30%
Take home examination 40%
Weighing
The final mark of the course is established by determining teh weighted average.
Resit
students who fail the course may resit the exam and/or course paper.
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
During the first part of the course students read an article before class each week. For the second part of the course, students prepare an oral group presentation based on three relevant articles or book chapters.
Brightspace will be used for:
course documents
assignments
announcements
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available on this website
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable
Contact
Education Administration Office Reuvensplaats
E-mail address Education Administration Office Reuvensplaats: osz-oa-reuvensplaats@hum.leidenuniv.nl