ALC8026 : Language Learning
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Christopher Leyland
- Owning School: Education, Communication & Language Sci
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To introduce students to several different theoretical perspectives and related concepts and empirical research prevalent in the field of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and to show some ways that these perspectives relate to each other.
Outline Of Syllabus
The syllabus is designed so as to provide students with different perspectives within the field of Second Language Acquisition (SLA). After an introduction session, we will have three sessions dedicated to prevalent cognitive/psycholinguistic approaches to SLA and key concepts and theories therein. Once this approach has been examined, students will be introduced to alternative perspectives, with a particular focus on more ‘social’ views that investigate learning and teaching in social interaction. In later session, students will focus on a particularly important area of debate within SLA: language learning and age. The module will conclude with a session dedicated to student’s assignment.
Indicative list of topics covered:
• Module introduction
• Learning vocabulary
• Learning grammar
• Communication and Learning strategies
• SLA reconceptualized
• Language learning in the classroom (Sociocultural Theory)
• Language learning outside of the classroom (Conversation Analysis)
• Language learning and age
• Assignment preparation
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 10 | 2:00 | 20:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 50:00 | 50:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 30:00 | 30:00 | N/A |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured non-synchronous discussion | 10 | 0:30 | 5:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Reflective learning activity | 5 | 1:00 | 5:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 78:00 | 78:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lecture videos provide an introduction to the weekly content, establish a basic level of understanding of the topic, and signal areas for individual further study and essential and further reading.
Follow-up classes provide students with the opportunity to raise questions related to lecture videos, and to discuss material in more depth. Group activities and discussions also allow students to share and engage personal reflections. Group activities are often linked to weekly reading.
Structured Guided Learning activities provide students with weekly opportunities to consolidate learning through guided tasks linked to the weekly topic.
Independent study will enable wider reading, further personal self-reflection and assignment preparation.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective log | 1 | M | 40 | Reflective learning log of weeks 1-5 (1500 words) |
| Essay | 1 | A | 60 | An essay of 2000 words |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Study skills, and other relevant knowledge and skills, will be assessed through the reflective learning journal. Critical understanding of relevant theory will be assessed through the end of module essay.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- ALC8026's Timetable