Bilingualism

Aims

Aims

This module will provide a review of bilingual development. Some of the issues to be considered are:

• the controversy over ‘one system vs. two’ in bilingual acquisition;
• the effect of bilingualism on cognition;
• code-switching in children and adults;
• aspects of bilingual education.

Programme

Programme

Contact hours

There will be four obligatory contact hours per week. Classes will be split between lectures and seminars (discussion sessions). MA students must also attend UG student practicals and seminars (one hour per week).

Teaching programme

Through a combination of lectures, readings, practical work and formative student presentations you will become acquainted with both the challenges of research on bilinguals (children and adults) and current solutions and insights. The main theoretical issues debated in both the popular press and the scientific literature will be considered.

By the end of the course you should have a good understanding of the complex questions surrounding bilingualism and should be able to critically evaluate the issues involved.

Teaching materials

Papers or book chapters will be assigned each week; they will be made available electronically at the beginning of term.

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment

• one 5,000 words essay will be assigned, involving analysis of bilingual data along with a critical review of a topic covered in the literature.