Second Language Acquisition LIN 6720
Spring, 2009
T, 5,6; R 6 Anderson 134
Dr. Diana Boxer
Telephone #: 392-0639, ext. 223; .
Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-10:30; Thursdays 2-3:30, or by appointment.
Text: Saville-Troike, M. Introducing Second Language Acquisition, Cambridge, 2006
Reader: Doughty, C. and M. Long. The Handbook of SLA. Blackwell, 2007
Supplementary readings: to be supplied by class members for biweekly presentations
Course requirements:
Two Individual (or four paired) presentations20%
Research proposal (due at midterm)15%
Three readings syntheses 30%
Individual or group research project35%
This course is an introduction to the burgeoning literature in the relatively recent field of Second Language Acquisition. It assumes a general background in basic linguistic concepts (pre-requisite is LIN 3010 or equivalent). Because it is the only general SLA course on the graduate level, it covers a broad range of concepts, readings, and theories. However, while it serves as an introduction,it is also an opportunity for individuals to delve deeper into specific areas of inquiry in SLA. The course will be conducted much like any graduate seminar, providing opportunities for the co-construction and deconstruction of the knowledge base as gleaned from the readings and class discussion. It is an opportunity to begin research in an area of SLA of interest to each individual student.
Presentations of the chapters in the Reader (and/or supplementary readings) will take place every Tuesday. Articles will be explicated and discussed in detail. The purpose of the presentations is to actively involve each of you in a section of the course that most interests you.
The culminating activity of the course will be an individual or co-written research project on a topic of your choice, using real data from language learners. Use the sections of the course as a guide (Start this early, as collection, transcription, and analysis of data is time consuming). Students will write three syntheses of readings and hand in a research proposal by midterm. There are no tests or quizzes.
Weeks 1, 2 (January 6-15):
- Background; Key issues in SLA; The state of SLA
Read: Text Chapter 1 and 2
Reader Chapter 1, Doughty and Long
Chapter 23, Gregg
Chapter 24, Doughty and Long
Weeks 3, 4 (January 20-29):
- Description of Learner Language: Role of L1, Transfer; developmental sequences; Processes in SLA, Markedness
Read: Text Chapter 3
Reader Chapter 11, DeKeyser
Chapter 12, Hulstijn
Chapter 13, Segalowitz
Chapter 15, Odlin
Chapter 16, Long
Weeks 5, 6 (Feb. 3-12):
3.The Linguistics of SLA (Continued)(First synthesis due, February 5)
Read:Reader Chapter 2, White
Chapter 3, O’Grady
Chapter 4, N. Ellis
Weeks 7, 8 (Feb. 17-26):
4. Psychological Aspects of SLA(Research proposal dueFeb. 19)
Read: Text Chapter 4
Reader Chapter 5, Kroll and Sunderman
Chapter 17, Hyltenstam and Abrahamsson
Chapter 19, Robinson
Chapter 20, Pienemann
Weeks 9,10 (spring break intervening) (March 3-19)
5. Social Aspects of SLA(Second synthesis due, March 5)
Read: Text Chapter 5
Reader Chapter 7, Watson-Gegeo and Neilsen
Chapter 8, Siegel
Chapter 9, Gass
Weeks 11, 12 (March 26-April 2): (Tuesday, March 24 is a research day)
6. Competence, processing, strategies,
Read: Text Chapter 6
Weeks 13, 14 (April 7-16):
7. Classroom second language acquisition (Third synthesis due April 9)
Read: Text Chapter 7
Reader Chapter 10, Doughty
Week 15 (April 21):
8. Theories and Research Methods in SLA; Conclusion
Read: Reader, Chapter 21, Norris and Ortega and
Chapter 22, Chaudron
Suggested supplementary readings:
Part 2:
Richards, J. and M. Sukwiwat (1983). Language transfer and conversational competence. Applied Linguistics 4,2
Eckman, F. (1984) The Markedness Differential Hypothesis. SSLA, 7.
Schacter, J. (1974) An error in error analysis. Language Learning 24.
Part 5:
Schmidt, R. and J. Richards (1980). Speech acts and second language learning. Applied Linguistics 1(2).
J. Thomas (1983) Cross-cultural pragmatic failure. Applied Linguistics 4,2.
Beebe, L and J. Zuengler (1983). Accomodation theory. In Wolfson and Judd (eds). Sociolinguistics and language acquisition.
Part 6:
Bardovi-Harlig, K. and B. Hartford (1993) Learning the rules of academic talk. SSLA 11(1).
Boxer, D. and F. Cortes-Conde (1997). Identity and ideology: Culture and pragmatics in content-based language.
Pica et. al (1989) Comprehensible Output...SSLA 11 (1).
Swain (1985) Communicative competence. in Gass and Madden (eds)
Long (1983) NS/NNS conversation...Applied Linguistics 4
Part 7:
Long, M. (1988) Instructed Interlanguage Development. In L. Beebe,
Issues in SLA
Schmidt,R. (1994) The role of consciousness in second language learning. Applied Linguistics 11: 129-58.
Part 8:
McLaughlin, B. (1987) Theories of second language learning (Chapter 4)
Long, M. (1993). Assessment strategies for second language acquisition theories. Applied Linguistics 14(3).