Bilingualism and Second Language Acquisition (Level 7)

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 7
• Convenor and tutor: Professor Jean-Marc Dewaele
• Assessment: a 3500-4000-word essay (100%)

We will consider a number of interesting methodological and theoretical debates and up-to-date research findings on the processes, developmental patterns and factors underlying bilingualism and second language acquisition (SLA).

Indicative module syllabus

• From emergent bilingual to balanced bilingual
• Trilingual first language acquisition: a case study
• Bilingualism and emotions
• Bilingualism: the cognitive consequences
• Bilingualism: the psychological consequences
• Introduction to second language acquisition (SLA)
• The age effect in SLA
• Individual differences in SLA
• Motivation in SLA
• Emotions in SLA

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• explain what is currently known about language acquisition from research, how we have come to know it, and what still needs to be investigated
• accurately evaluate popular ideas about bilingualism and second language acquisition
• develop informed expectations for language learning and training
• answer your own questions about bilingualism and second language acquisition, frame new questions in the light of current research, and move toward research projects of your own
• critically evaluate research on the topic and develop ideas for research projects.