| CODE | ENG2060 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Second Language Acquisition of English | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | English | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will review key aspects of Second Language Acquisition and of theory and practice in the area. Discussion of the Maltese context will feature, but the content of the unit will also consider experience of second-language acquisition in other cultures. Major and evolving thinking in TESOL will be referred to and discussed. The following will be addressed: • Corpora and the language classroom; • Discourse Analysis and Language teaching; • English for Specific purposes; • Grammar and the TESOL classroom; • Learner Autonomy; • Materials Evaluation and Design; • From TESOL theory to practice - illustrative case studies; • Technology enhanced TESOL. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit offers a global perspective on the changing uses and forms of English and develops skills in analysing them – examining a wide range of regional contexts in which English language teaching and learning takes place, and drawing in particular on systemic functional linguistics. It introduces the literature on second language acquisition. It provides research methods for critical analysis of TESOL practice, and theoretical frameworks and practical tools for understanding how ELT classroom curricula can be analysed, developed and evaluated. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • give an overview of second language acquisition research; • distinguish the external factors that influence the acquisition of English as a second language: Input and interaction, social factors; • appreciate the internal factors that influence the acquisition of English as a second language: Language transfer, Cognitive accounts, individual differences and learning strategies. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • describe the learner language including pragmatic aspects of learner language & variability in learner language; • explore important or controversial topics which have been the subject of recent discussion and research in the field of TESOL; • relate to key areas in corpora and language teaching; • have an overview of the development of ESP, course design, theory and development. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: • BIBER, D. 2006. University language: a corpus-based study of spoken and written registers. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. • BIBER, D., JOHANSSON, S., LEECH, G., CONRAD, S. & FINEGAN, E. 1999. Longman grammar of spoken and written English. Harlow: Pearson Education. • BOT, K. D. & LOWIE, W. 2005. Second language acquisition: an advanced resource book. Routledge. • BURNS, A. & COFFIN, C. 2001. Analysing English in a global context: a reader. London: Routledge. • CARTER, R. & MCCARTHY, M. 2006. The Cambridge grammar of English: a comprehensive guide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. • COOK, V. 2001. Second language learning and language teaching. London: Arnold. • ELLIS, R. 2008. The study of second language acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. • GRUNDY, P. 2000. Doing pragmatics. London: Arnold. • HOEY, M. 2001. Textual interaction: an introduction to written discourse analysis. London: Routledge. • LIGHTBOWN, P. M. & SPADA, N. 2006. How languages are learned. Oxford: Oxford University Press. • MCKAY, S. L. 2002. Teaching English as an international language: rethinking goals and approaches. Oxford: OUP. • SCOVEL, T. 2001. Learning new languages: a guide to second language acquisition. Boston: Heinle & Heinle. • VANPATTEN, B. & WILLIAMS, J. 2006. Theories in second language acquisition: an introduction. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Fieldwork, Group Learning and Lecture | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Michelle Gialanze' |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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