Acquisition of a seond or foreign language: theory and applications

Teacher(s)

Lucchini Silvia;

Language

French

Prerequisites

C1 level in French (Common European Framework of Reference)

Main themes

The course focuses on an introduction to language learning mechanisms and underlying theories.
The following will be covered:
- conditioning and reinforcement (behaviourist theories);
- comprehensible input (inneist theories);
- equilibration (constructivist theories);
- potential learning sequences (socioconstructivist theories);
- routine formats (culturalist theories);
- metalinguistic skills (gestalt theories);
- long-term memory (cognitive theories).
 

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	At the end of the course, students will be able to: - understand the processes of acquisition of a second or foreign language, in the light of the method of acquisition of the first language; - analyse methods of learning in a critical way by highlighting the implicit processes of acquisition; - build didactic devices on the basis of these processes; - formulate research questions / hypotheses relating to the acquisition of foreign and second languages.

Content

The course focuses on the presentation of language learning mechanisms and underlying theories.
Will be discussed:
- conditioning and reinforcement (behaviourist theories);
- comprehensible input (inneist theories);
- equilibration (constructivist theories);
- potential learning sequences (socioconstructivist theories);
- routine formats (culturalist theories);
- metalinguistic skills (gestalt theories);
- long-term memory (cognitive theories).

Teaching methods

Part of the course is devoted to the presentation of thean introduction to linguistic acquisition mechanisms of and their reference theories. These presentations are complemented by analyses of documents (prescribed texts of the studied authors, textbook unitsindividual learning methods, didactic teaching devicesmaterials, displays explanations of researches), according to an interactive methodology.

Evaluation methods

Assessment : a written assignment and an oral examination.

Other information

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Online resources

Course notes, reading list and online podcasts are available on the UCLine website course : https://ucline.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=37

Bibliography

La liste bibliographique est disponible sur le site UCLine du cours.
A bibliographical list is available on the course website.

Teaching materials

• Les supports de cours se trouvent à la page https://ucline.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?
• The course materials can be found at https://ucline.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?

Faculty or entity

ELAL