How Are Languages Learned?

Catalog description

This course covers the basic principles of second language acquisition (SLA), an important area of study within the larger field of applied linguistics. Students will explore current theories of how people learn a second or foreign language, critically evaluate the theories and incorporate their own experiences with second language learning. Students will be expected to read, analyze, and respond to research that presents current views on second language acquisition. The field of SLA is inherently interdisciplinary and draws on research shaped by the prominent academic disciplines of psychology, sociology, education, and linguistics. Thus, a variety of views of SLA will be discussed in the class.