124095 VK BEd 09.2: VK Linguistics for Language Teachers (2020W)

This course is designed to offer an insight into how different instructional approaches and techniques can influence the development of second language knowledge systems and skills. The themes discussed are at the interface of second language acquisition research (SLA) and classroom practices. In this course, we will focus on understanding and exploring the pedagogical implications of several strands of SLA research. In particular, the course will provide students with an understanding of key factors influencing the learning of second language grammar, the development of vocabulary knowledge, and productive and receptive language skills in instructed classroom language contexts. We will explore answers to the questions such as how frequency influences the learning of vocabulary, what the role of practice is in acquiring new grammatical constructions, how multi-modality can assist in text comprehension, what pedagogical interventions can enhance second language fluency and how learners with different cognitive profiles can benefit from different instructional approaches.
Students will become familiar with contemporary theory, methodology, and empirical research in the field of instructed second language acquisition. In addition, participants will develop their ability to engage in academic discussions by participating in online discussion forums and improve their critical thinking and writing skills by carrying out the course assignments. Students will also gain experience in designing research projects and develop their presentation skills as part of the group presentation sessions.
Each theme will be introduced by short lectures and readings which will be followed by group discussion activities. For each topic students will also read and critically analyze a research study. Students will work in groups and plan an experimental research project and present it to the class in simulated conference sessions.
For the bachelor thesis, students will write up the research project plan and discuss the theoretical and pedagogical implications of their planned research. Students who are not writing their bachelor thesis in this course will hand in a critical comparative analysis of two research papers that investigated similar issues in instructed second language acquisition.