• Semester 1 (Day)
• Semester 1 (External)
• Semester 2 (External)

Synopsis

Teachers  of  second  languages need to have a  theoretical  framework
which  would enable them to evaluate their activities in the classroom
more  effectively.  While in practice it is possible to find  that  an
activity  that  is theoretically effective can be ineffective  through
teacher  or other factors operating in the classroom, nevertheless  to
be  able  to teach creatively in the classroom, teachers need to  know
why something they do in the classroom works.  No teacher operating in
the classroom does so without some sort of theory of teaching, however
rudimentary it might be.  This unit attempts to provide  teachers with
a coherent  theory  of second language learning. The  unit  emphasises
recent  research  in second language acquisition and  the  theoretical
issues   underlying such research. The unit looks  at  the   following
topics:   (a)  various approaches to assessing and describing  learner
language;  (b)  the  notion of "interlanguage"; (c)  the  question  of
transfer  from  first  language in SLL; (d)  cognitive  processes  and
strategies involved in second language learning and communication; (e)
individual  learner  characteristics, learning  and  environment;  (f)
social and cultural factors affecting L1 and L2 use; (g) consideration
of  the  implications of SL learning research and theory for  language
teaching.