NJII_332 Language Acquisition Theories

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2011
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Cornelia Herrmann (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Cornelia Herrmann
Department of German, Scandinavian and Netherland Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 9:10–10:45 G02
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
There are two factors of great importance when learning a foreign language: age and mother tongue. The conditions seem to differ under which: children acquire their native language, adults acquire a second language in a natural learning environment and students learn a foreign language in class. This seminar intends to give an overview of the field of language learning theories. At the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:
- understand and explain the difference between the terms native language, foreign language and second language illustrating them with examples
- understand and explain the difference between the concept of learning and acquiring a language
- understand and explain the steps of first language acquisition
- describe bi- and multilingualism
- compare and identify pros and cons of several language learning theories
Syllabus
  • Firstly, the terms' concepts "language", "foreign language" and "second language" are discussed and defined. Then, attention will be drawn to how first language acquisition takes place. Before analysing how people learn a foreign language there will be a theoretical digression about bi- and multilingualism. Also, the difference between the terms learning and acquiring is going to be made clear. Finally, some language learning theories are being presented, compared and the pros and cons are going to be discussed.
Literature
  • Handbuch Fremdsprachenunterricht. Edited by Karl-Richard Bausch - Herbert Christ - Hans-Jürgen Krumm. 5., gegenüber der vierten u. Tübingen: A. Francke, 2007, xviii, 655. ISBN 9783772082344. info
  • HOUSE, Juliane. Einführung in die Sprachlehrforschung. Edited by Willis Edmondson. 2., überarb. Aufl. Tübingen: A. Francke Verlag, 2000, xvii, 369. ISBN 3772016812. info
  • APELTAUER, Ernst. Grundlagen des Erst- und Fremdsprachenerwerbs : eine Einfühhrung. Berlin: Langenscheidt, 1997, 176 s. ISBN 3468496583. info
  • APELTAUER, Ernst. Zweit- und Fremdsprachenerwerbstheorien. Berlin: Langenscheidt, 1993, 169 s. info
Teaching methods
Seminar plus oral presentations
Assessment methods
constant and active participation, read and study the relevant literature, oral presentation plus handout
Language of instruction
German
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2010.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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