LANGUAGE LEARNING AND TEACHING module 1

LANGUAGE LEARNING AND TEACHING module 1

1. Second Language Acquisition (SLA)

   • Importance
     • Commitment
     • Motivation
     • Effort
     • Social Interaction in meaningful context
   • Classroom Effectiveness
     • Optimized Communicative Opportunities
   • Questions about SLA
     • Learner Characteristics
     • Linguistic Factors
     • Learning Processes
     • Age and Acquisition
     • Classroom Instruction
     • Context
     • Purpose

2. Learner Characteristics

   • Ethnic, linguistic, religious heritage
   • Native languages
   • Levels of education
   • Socioeconomic characteristics
   • Life experiences
   • Intellectual capacities

3. Linguistic Factors

   • Definition of language
   • Communication
   • Differences and similarities between L1 and L2
   • Difficult properties of L2

4. Learning Processes

   • Steps to successful learning
   • Mental/intellectual processes
   • Learning strategies

5. Age and Acquisition

   • Differences between children and adults
   • Age of learning impact
   • Developmental changes affecting SLA

6. Classroom Instruction

   • Natural vs. instructed SLA
   • Effects of methodological approaches
   • Textbooks, materials, teacher styles
   • Institutional factors

7. Context

   • Second language vs. foreign language context
   • Sociopolitical conditions
   • Intercultural contrasts and similarities

8. Purpose

   • Career success
   • Passing requirements
   • Cultural identification

9. Perspectives on SLA

   • Structural Linguistics and Behavioral Psychology
     • 1940s-1950s
     • Observable responses
     • Scientific method
   • Generative Linguistics and Cognitive Psychology
     • 1960s
     • Innate principles
     • Competence vs. performance
   • Constructivism
     • Cognitive constructivism
     • Social constructivism

10. Constructivism in SLA

    • Interactive discourse
    • Sociocultural factors
    • Construction of identity
    • Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

11. Theoretical Trends

    • Integration of linguistic, psychological, sociological paradigms
    • Social interaction and cooperative learning

12. Historical Language Teaching Methods

    • Classical Method
      • Memorization
      • Translation
      • Grammatical rules
    • Grammar Translation Method
    • Audiolingual Method (ALM)
      • Oral production drills
    • Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)
      • Eclectic blend
      • Authentic uses
      • Emphasis on communication

13. Principles of Language Teaching

    • Eclectic approaches
    • Theory-based techniques
    • Context-specific methods

14. SUGGESTED READINGS

    • Ritchie, W., & Bhatia, T. (2009). (Eds.) The new handbook of second language acquisition. Bingley, UK: Emerald Group.
    • Hinkel, E. (Ed.). (2011). Handbook of research in second language teaching and learning: Volume II. New York: Routledge.
    • Kaufman, D. (2004). Constructivist issues in language learning and teaching. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics , 24, 303–319.
    • Modern Language Journal , Fall 2000 (vol. 84, no. 4) and Spring 2001 (vol. 85, no. 1).