1. Don Bosco University
School of Languages
Introduction to Linguistics
Topic: Language Acquisition (LA) Research
Methods
Facilitator: Sandra Duran
Date: April 22nd, 2014

2. AGENDA (template)
Activity # 1: Activating previous
knowledge on topic/concepts
Activity # 2: Encountering main
concepts
Activity # 3: Completing a task to
process main concepts
Activity # 4: Recapping the lesson
DonBoscoUniversitySchoolof
LanguagesIntroductiontoLinguistics

3. AGENDA (example)
Activity # 1: Activating previous knowledge on Methods
for LA research.
Activity # 2: Inspecting two LA reseach methods &
instruments.
Activity # 3: Completing a bibliographical file of an
LA research related study.
Activity # 4: Recapping about LA research.
DonBoscoUniversitySchoolof
LanguagesIntroductiontoLinguistics

4. Activity # 1: Activating
previous knowledge on LA
research.
Purpose: To activate background
knowledge on LA research methods.
Instructions & Process:
1. Work in pairs.
2. Discuss these questions:
◦ How can we study the process of language
acquisition?
◦ What process can we follow to findout how
people acquire a first or a second
language?
3. Share with the whole class.
DonBoscoUniversitySchoolof
LanguagesIntroductiontoLinguistics

5. Activity #2: Inspecting two LA reseach methods &
instruments.
Purpose: To select a research method for the course project.
Instructions & Process:
1. Individually study the following methods for LA Research.
2. Choose a method suitable for your reseach project
3. Share with the class:
 Which of the two methods do you find more suitable for your project
type?
DonBoscoUniversitySchoolof
LanguagesIntroductiontoLinguistics
.
Methods of Language Acquisition Research
1. Naturalistic approach
Studies of spontaneous speech recorded in natural settings or
events of a child’s daily speech.
2. Experimental studies
A. Cross sectional
Comparison of children’s speech at different points of
development, E.g. 2, 4 and 6 years old.
B. Longitudinal
A research that takes place over an extended period of
time, i.e. 6 months, 1,2 or more years.

6. Activity #2: Inspecting two LA reseach methods &
instruments.
Purpose: To select a type of instrument for the course project.
Instructions & Process:
1. Individually examine the following sample tasks for LA data collection.
2. Choose a task suitable for your reseach project if any.
3.
Share with the class:
 Which task(s) do you find more suitable for your project type? How can you adapt or
modify it?
DonBoscoUniversitySchoolof
LanguagesIntroductiontoLinguistics
Advantage:
it allows researchers to collect data of specific parts of the language
Pitfalls:
designing good experiments that collects the targeted samples may take
time and effort.
Children`s performance might be affected by lack of ability to understand the
task, inattention, shyness, etc.
Sample tasks
1. Picture selection formats »to elicit interpretation of language structures
2. Using toys » to elicit sentences that provide clues on grammar rules
being used
3. Describing a picture » to elicit complex or non commonly used structures
4. Imitation of sentences. » to tests children’s development of structures.

7. Activity # 3: Completing a bibliographical
file of an LA research related study.
Purpose: To complete a bibliographical
file from a presentation on a study on LA
research.
Instructions & Process:
1. Listen to the presentation of a study.
2. Complete the following
bibliographical file.
DonBoscoUniversitySchoolof
LanguagesIntroductiontoLinguistics

8. Activity # 3: Completing a bibliographical
file of an LA research related study.
Purpose: To complete a bibliographical file from a
presentation on a study on LA research.
Instructions: Listen to the presentation of a study and
complete the following bibliographical file.
DonBoscoUniversitySchoolof
LanguagesIntroductiontoLinguistics
File: # Presenter: Type: Summary/quotes
Author: LASTNAME, Name
Title:
Year:
Pages
Editorial:
City,country:
Trad.(uccion)
Subjects:
Instruments:
Data processing:
Results:

9. .
APA format: Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of
article.Title of Online Periodical, volume number(issue number if available).
Retrieved from
http://www.someaddress.com/full/url/
Example: Bernstein, M. (2002). 10 tips on writing the living Web. A List Apart:
For People Who Make Websites, 149. Retrieved from
http://www.alistapart.com/articles/writeliving
Activity # 3: Completing a bibliographical file of an
LA research related study.

15. Findings

17. Activity # 5: Recapping about languaguage
acquisition research
Purpose: To reflect on what was learned about
LA research methods.
Instructions:
1. Work in groups of three.
2. Discuss what you learned in this lesson
using the following prompts:
◦ What I learned about LA research methods/the
study presented is…
◦ In my own study I will propaby
use________method/instrument because…
◦ Something I still doubt is…
3. Share your answers with the class.
DonBoscoUniversitySchoolof
LanguagesIntroductiontoLinguistics