Acquisition of Span/2nd Lang

Catalog description

This course offers an overview of the principles of modern second language acquisition (SLA) research, specifically applied to the learning of Spanish. The main objective of this course is to provide students with the background knowledge to understand the psycholinguistic principles at work in world language learning, and how these principles appear in the acquisition process and the acquisition of different components of language. We will begin the course by considering the concept of proficiency and appropriate targets for non-native speakers. We will then consider the role of input in acquisition, with special attention to how input varies by context, usability, and through instruction. Our next modules will examine how different levels of grammar (vocabulary/lexis, word order/syntax, word endings/morphology) are acquired. We will also consider which dialect(s) of Spanish are appropriate targets in the classroom, how technology may influence the acquisition processes, and finally, the role of study abroad in language learning. This course is taught exclusively in Spanish.