Foundations of Second Language Teaching

Catalog description

Critical understanding of basic concepts and principles in second language acquisition and teaching. WLED 300 Foundations of Second Language Teaching (3)This course is designed to give prospective World Languages teachers a critical understanding of basic concepts and principles in, first and second language acquisition and teaching. The core of the course explicates processes of language acquisition viewed from major theories of first and second language acquisition and common issues within these major theories are presented and debated. This course should be taken concurrently with WLED 295A (Early Field Experience for World Languages Teacher preparation). Using the field experience component, students will be able to critically examine language teaching methodologies derived and implied from first and second language acquisition theories and to apply them while in their field experience. This course requires participating in the field experience component, group-reflections and self-critique as well as to complete the required readings, and to develop a professional growth portfolio including the four domains stated in the Penn State model of Teacher Preparation (planning and preparing for student learning; teaching; inquiring and analyzing learning and teaching- and professionalism). This course should be taken concurrently with the Early Field Experience for World Languages Teacher Preparation (WLED 295A).