ET5501 Second Language Acquisition

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Only available to students on a PGT TESOL programme

Planned timetable

Lectures: Mondays 2-4, Tuesdays 2-4 Weeks 1-5. Practical: Day and Time to be confirmed, Weeks 1-5

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Mrs K Tavakoli

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Mrs Kerry Tavakoli, Ms Kirsty McCall

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module focuses on how subsequent languages are learned after the first/native language. Theories of language acquisition will be evaluated, from behaviourism to current theory. Students need to trace the development of such theories in order to consider what each theory offers. Ways in which all learners appear to follow a similar route will be considered before making a detailed study of individual learner differences, in particular levels of motivation and the development and application of language learning strategies. The module then investigates how theories of language acquisition inform teaching, and the lack of interface between research and practice will be discussed.

Assessment pattern

100% coursework

Re-assessment

100% coursework

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

4 hours lectures (x 5 weeks), 1 hour seminar (x 5 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

31

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

120

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • explain the main theories of language acquisition and how they interact
  • summarise the main contributions of key second language acquisition theorists to the field of language teaching
  • relate second language acquisition theories and research to language teaching
  • analyse individual learner differences and relate them to learner language development
  • engage with the complex nature of language learning strategies