Language Acquisition and Teaching

obligatory courses

understanding of linguistics acquired by participation in the "introduction to linguistics" course

Classroom

A discussion of some fundamental concepts of first and second language acquisition. The course will introduce the participants to a selection of recent theories concerning mechanisms of language acquisition, as well as to practical methods employed in foreign language teaching.

The course is devoted to fundamental concepts of first and second language acquisition, such as: the similarities and differences between first language acquisition and second language acquisition, theories concerning child language development, the critical period hypothesis, characteristics of native linguistic competence, universal grammar and innateness hypothesis, cognitive and generative approaches to language acquisition, the phenomenon of bilingualism, theories concerning second language acquisition, various language teaching strategies and methods. The following practical issues will be discussed in detail: factors influencing the rate and effects of the language learning process, language skills: pronunciation, intonation, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, listening comprehension, reading comprehension, speaking, writing, planning a language course, setting aims, syllabus design, assessing and testing language proficiency, the use of teaching materials. Special attention will be paid to the problem of foreign language teaching as an important aspect of educational policy.

J. Arabski (1985), O przyswajaniu języka obcego (drugiego), Warszawa, WSiP.

J. Arabski (1996), Przyswajanie języka obcego i pamięć werbalna, Katowice, Śląsk.

J. Brzeziński (1980), Pomoce i środki audiowizualne w nauczaniu języków obcych, Warszawa, Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe.

J. Brzeziński (1987), Nauczanie języków obcych dzieci, Warszawa, WSiP.

F. Grucza (1978), Glottodydaktyka, jej zakres i problemy, w: Przegląd Glottodydaktyczny 1.

H. Komorowska (1999), Metodyka nauczania języków obcych, Warszawa, Fraszka Edukacyjna.

H. Komorowska (2005), Programy nauczania w kształceniu ogólnym i w kształceniu językowym, Warszawa, Fraszka Edukacyjna.

W. Pfeiffer (2001), Nauka języków obcych. Od praktyki do praktyki, Poznań, Wagros.

K. Polański (1993), red., Encyklopedia językoznawstwa ogólnego, Wrocław, Ossolineum.

S. Urbańczyk, M. Kucała (1999), red., Encyklopedia języka polskiego, Wrocław, Ossolineum.

Having completed the course, the student is able to:

- identify fundamental phenomena and processes related to first and second language acquisition and describe them from the perspective of theoretical and applied linguistics;

- define and apply various strategies and methods of foreign language teaching;

- use a set of basic linguistic terms related to language acquisition;

- define and discuss the most important recent theories concerning mechanisms of language acquisition.

Final written test including open questions and multiple-choice questions, duration.