LING 438/538: Second Language Acquisition

Instructor: John Hellerman

Credits: Four

Second Language Acquisition (SLA) is an introduction to the research and theory around the phenomenon of learning an additional language. The course should be relevant to anyone interested in language learning, language teaching, and applied linguistics in general.

When the course is complete, students should be familiar with the major theories and research studies in SLA and the history of the field. Students should also be comfortable analyzing data using different methods and theoretical perspectives. Current and future teachers should be able to apply and make relevant the theory and research studied in this class to your own teaching practice.

Prerequisites: LING 390

Major Assignments: Final exam, 3 data analysis papers, final paper (graduate students) class presentations (grad students).

Textbooks: Gass, S. & Selinker, L. (2008). Second language acquisition. 3rd Edition. New York: Routledge. (ISBN: 978-0-805-85498-5)

Other Relevant Information: LING 438/538: Second Language Acquisition is a prerequisite for LING 477/577 TESOL Methods One.