This 3-unit course provides an introduction to the principles and theories of language acquisition and learning. Over the 17-week period, topics will include child language acquisition, bilingualism, second language acquisition, and the factors that influence the acquisition process such as age, the linguistic environment, cognition, social context, motivation, and aptitude. By the end of the course students will understand differences between first and second language acquisition, the role of influencing factors, how language is acquired, and resources available for second language learning.

1. Course Outline in Principles and Theories
in Language Acquisition and Learning
Brando B. Sayson, PhD

2. COURSE TITLE: Principles and Theories of Language Acquisition and
Learning
COURSE UNIT: 3 UNITS
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to field of language
acquisition. It aims at introduction the students to the major concepts in
fields of child language acquisition, and bi/multilingual acquisition. It
discusses the different factors that influence the acquisition process asage,
the linguistic environment, cognition, the social context, motivation, and
aptitude.
COURSE INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME: At the end of this course,
students shall be able to:
1. Understand the differences and similarities between firstlanguage
acquisition and second/ multi language acquisition.
2. Understand the role of different factors influencing languageacquisition
such as age, transfer, and the linguistic and social environment.
3. Develop and understand of how language is acquired as a first language or
as a second.
4. Conduct a teaching demo either in Language or in Literature and test
students’ comprehension of the lesson by testing.
5. Discuss the available recourses for second language acquisition and
whether second language acquisition is acquired using the same facultiesand
resources exploited by first language acquisition.
TIME
FRAME
TOPICS AND SUB-
TOPICS
WEEK 1-2 A. Introduction to language acquisition:
Child language acquisition, bi/multilingualism and second
language acquisition
WEEK 3-4 B. Multilingual language acquisition: Bilingual development,
the role of
age, bilingualism and cognitive development

3. WEEK 5-6 C. Language Acquisition:
Transfer and the role of the L1: A historical account
(Behaviorism/Contrastive analysis/ Error analysis)
WEEK 7-8 D. Language development in children
WEEK 9-10 E. Language acquisition and age:
critical period hypothesis
WEEK 11-12 F. Language acquisition and the linguistic environment:
acculturation model, input (Krashen), interaction and
negotiation, output, and feedback
WEEK 13-14 G. Development of learner language (interlanguage)
WEEK 15-16 H. Language acquisition and cognition: Information
Processing, Skill
acquisition theory, memory and attention
WEEK 17 I. Foreign language learning and aptitude