Language Development

Code

ENGL2016

School

English

Level

2

Credits

20

Semesters

Spring UK

Summary

Would you like to learn how we go from making a few sounds to being able to read and discuss Shakespeare? To begin to answer this question, in the module Language Development we will learn about and explore questions like:

• the biological foundations of language development
• the stages of language acquisition
• the influence of environment on development
• the emergence of gendered speech
• the development of humour and joke telling abilities
• the development of conversational skills and storytelling abilities
• how we learn to read and write
• what can go wrong in the acquisition process
• bilingualism
   

   

Target Students

Compulsory module for all second-year students on QQ13 English Language and Applied Linguistics 2+2. Optional for second-year students on other SH and JH English programmes, including 2+2 programmes; students participating in exchanges from the School partner institutions; and second or third-year students on the Liberal Arts programme.ENGL1002 Studying Language is a pre-requisite for this module.

Classes

• One 1-hour seminar each week for 12 weeks
• One 1-hour lecture each week for 12 weeks
• One 1-hour laboratory each week for 12 weeks

Ethics approval will be required. Each student must submit informed consent forms signed by each participant.

Assessment

• 70% Coursework 1: 2000 word coursework (with up to 1000 word appendix)
• 30% Laboratory: Seven data analysis exercises, equivalent to 2000 words

Assessed by end of spring semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this module will gain knowledge about key issues in first and second language processing and acquisition. They will be able to apply what they have learned to predict results and explain data patterns with respect to theories. The course will enhance students’ ability to critically evaluate data and theories.


Knowledge and understanding of:

• the milestones in auditory and spoken language development (A3, A2)
• how children learn to read and write (A3, A2)
• the theories used to explain language development and language deficits (A1, A6).
   

Intellectual development:

• by providing hands on training in examining actual children’s language(B1)
• by learning to critically discuss data in relation to theories of language development (B2).
   

Professional practical skills:

• gain the ability to design and execute research at a professional level (C5),
• learn to analyse data in relation to theory (C2, C4)
• learn to produce a project report to a professional disciplinary standard (C3, C1).
  Note: This module is particularly useful for students wishing to pursue professional careers in Education and or Speech Language Therapy.
   

Transferable (key) skills:

• gain the ability to communicate effectively about data and research in both writing and discussion (D1, D2, D3, D4, D5)

Conveners

• Dr Dominic Thompson