SLAA - Second Language Acquisition and Application
SLAA410 Second Language Acquisition: Theory, Research, and Practice (3 Credits)
Introduces vibrant and expanding branch of language science and cognitive science: theory, research and practice in SLA. Students apply what they learn to practical issues ranging from learning languages as an adult to societal problems involving second languages and dialects.
Prerequisite: LING200, LING240, PSYC200, PSYC221, or PSYC354.
SLAA498 Second Language Research and Practicum (1-3 Credits)
Individualized research and practicum for undergraduate students to work as Undergraduate Research Assistants (UGRA) on existing projects under the supervision of a PhD Graduate Supervisor (GS) in the area of second language acquisition to learn/experience how second language as well as psycholinguistic research is conducted.
Restriction: Permission of ARHU-School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department.
Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.
Additional Information: UGRAs register for 1-3 credits. A specific weekly schedule will be determined at the beginning of the semester. Throughout the semester, students will meet with the Graduate Supervisor (GS) once per week to discuss the theoretical and methodological background of the project as well as the broader area behind the research. In addition to the training in theoretical background, the first several weeks of the semester will be devoted to hands-on details of running subjects using a particular method and analyzing data. When this training is complete, UGRAs will work more independently to schedule and run research projects and process the data.
SLAA610 Research and Theories in Second Language Acquisition (3 Credits)
Introduction to current theories and research findings Second Language Acquisition (SLA).
SLAA611 Fundamentals of Foreign Language Acquisition and Instruction (3 Credits)
Introduction to theoretical and practical issues relevant to foreign language learning, language acquisition, and curriculum construction.
SLAA620 Second Language Research Methodologies (3 Credits)
An exploration of research methodology in second language acquisition (SLA), with a focus on developing practical skills in data analysis and interpretation. Preparation in both critical evaluation of existing research and design of new research models.
Prerequisite: SLAA610; and must have completed or be concurrently enrolled in SLAA611.
SLAA629 Special Topics in Sociolinguistics (3 Credits)
Current topics in research in sociolinguistics.
Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.
SLAA630 Second Language Testing (3 Credits)
An introduction to basic concepts in the assessment of second language knowledge. Issues of reliability, dependability, construct validity, utility, and washback on instruction are examined.
Prerequisite: SLAA610; or permission of ARHU-School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department.
SLAA639 Special Topics in Applied Linguistics (3 Credits)
Current topics in research in applied linguistics.
Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.
SLAA640 Psycholinguistics (3 Credits)
An introduction to the field of psycholinguistics that covers speech perception, word recognition, sentence and discourse processing, speech production, and language acquisition. Basic concepts, research methods, major research topics, leading theories and related research findings, with implications of psycholinguistic theories and findings for second language studies.
Prerequisite: SLAA610; or permission of ARHU-School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department.
SLAA649 Special Topics in Second Language Acquisition (3 Credits)
Current topics in research in second language acquisition.
Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.
SLAA650 Second Language Analysis (3 Credits)
An overview of the field of linguistics with a particular attention to its application in SLA studies, introduces students to the basic concepts and skills related to the scientific study of language, and provides them with opportunities to apply these concepts and skills in the analysis of language. It covers topics such as phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, language acquisition, and language use.
Prerequisite: SLAA610; or permission of ARHU-School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures department.
SLAA719 Second Language Acquisition and Application Internship (3 Credits)
Internship at a site to be determined. Topics may include heritage language learning, immersion education, testing and assessment, translation and interpretation, and national language planning and policy.
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
SLAA741 Cognitive Processes in Second Language Learning (3 Credits)
Examines the roles played by varied types of learning processes and memory, general processing issues, and the cognitive bases of individual differences in learning and processing a second language.
Prerequisite: SLAA610; or students who have taken courses with comparable content may contact the department.
SLAA742 Second Language Processing (3 Credits)
Covers leading theoretical approaches and experimental methods in second language processing. Draws on research and theories in Second Language Acquisition (SLA), formal linguistics, cognitive grammar, psycholinguistics, and neurolinguistics.
Restriction: Permission of instructor required for MA students.
SLAA744 Age Effects in Second Language Learning (3 Credits)
Consideration of the empirical evidence for age effects in second language learning and its potential confounds. Critical evaluation of the differing interpretations of these effects and their implications for educational practice, SLA theory, development psychology, and research methodology.
Prerequisite: SLAA610.
Restriction: Permission of instructor.
SLAA749 Special Topics in Second Language Learning (3 Credits)
Current topics in research on Second Language Learning.
Prerequisite: SLAA610; or permission of instructor.
SLAA750 Instructed Second Language Acquisition (3 Credits)
Survey of studies on effectiveness of SLA instruction within various domains of language, with focus on research design.
Prerequisite: SLAA610.
SLAA754 Task-Based Language Teaching (3 Credits)
Overview of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) including needs and means analysis, syllabus design, materials writing, methodology and pedagogy, testing, and evaluation. Theoretical issues addressed include relationship of TBLT to research findings on the psychology of learning and SLA and libertarian approaches to education.
SLAA759 Special Topics in Second Language Instruction (3 Credits)
Topics in the theory and practice of second language instruction.
Repeatable to: 12 credits.
SLAA760 Fundamentals of Second Language Assessment (3 Credits)
An overview of current assessment models in foreign and second language learning.
Prerequisite: SLAA610.
SLAA772 Bilingualism and Multilingualism (3 Credits)
Critical exploration of concepts in bilingualism and multilingualism with emphasis on the social environments of second language acquisition, through the lens of cognitive and social frameworks. Implications of bilingualism for memory, affect, language processing and code-switching/mixing, as well as the social implications of knowing and using more than one language.
Prerequisite: SLAA610; or permission of instructor.
SLAA773 The Heritage Language Speaker (3 Credits)
Critical exploration of the theoretical issues and existing experimental research on heritage language learning and use as well as consideration of classroom and curricular implications of heritage language learning.
Restriction: Permission of instructor required for Master students.
SLAA779 Directed Research in Second Language Acquisition and Application (1-3 Credits)
Directed independent research in Second Language Acquisition or Application. In this capstone project, students engage in independent research under faculty direction.
Repeatable to: 3 credits if content differs.
SLAA798 Master's Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
Repeatable to: 6 credits if content differs.
SLAA799 Master's Thesis Research (1-6 Credits)
SLAA888 Doctoral Independent Study (1-3 Credits)
Individual instruction course.
Prerequisite: Permission of ARHU-College of Arts & Humanities.
Repeatable to: 9 credits if content differs.
SLAA898 Pre-Candidacy Research (1-8 Credits)
SLAA899 Doctoral Dissertation Research (1-8 Credits)