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First Language Acquisition (LING30003)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject is an overview of some principal issues in first language acquisition, including children's language development (from pre-speech onwards), grammatical, semantic and pragmatic development, and the continued development of language through the school years. The variability and individual differences in relation to current theoretical models of language acquisition and cognitive and social development will also be examined. Focus is on the acquisition of English, but cross-cultural material will be included for comparison.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should:
- be able to draw on and critically evaluate knowledge of how the linguistic system develops in the child, including the sound system, grammar, meaning, pragmatics, and awareness of language;
- have positioned themselves within theoretical debates in first language acquisition research;
- be able to confidently deploy discipline specific research skills using primary and secondary sources and empirical data with a strong sense of research ethics and intellectual integrity;
- be able to proficiently employ learning and research technologies as well as field-specific technologies such as the CHILDES database;
- have attained advanced abilities in writing and other modalities;
- have consolidated their understanding of social and cultural diversity and how they impact first language acquisition;
- lead collaborative activities to address complex tasks in diverse learning settings.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should:
- be able to think critically;
- be able to effectively communicate ideas in writing;
- be able to make a brief presentation.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Assessment
Additional details
- Data collection, transcription, project abstract & presentation due week 4-6 [30%]
- critical Reading assessment due in week 8 [20%]
- Major project due during the examination period [40%]
- Participation & engagement throughout the semester [10%]
Hurdle Requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.
Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Barbara Kelly Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 34 hours: 2 x 1 hour lectures and 1 x 1 hour tutorial per week. There will be no tutorials in the first and last weeks of semester. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 27 February 2017 to 28 May 2017 Last self-enrol date 10 March 2017 Census date 31 March 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2017 Assessment period ends 23 June 2017 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
It is recommended that students have some familiarity with the IPA and basic linguistic concepts prior to enrolling into this subject. Contact the coordinator for recommended reading if you have no linguistics background.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
First Language Acquisition (Eve V Clark) CUP, 2003 (3rd edition).
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation English Language - 200 Point Program Informal specialisation Technology in Language Learning - 200 Point Program Specialisation (formal) Technology in Language Learning Minor English Language Studies Informal specialisation Language Testing - 200 Point Program Informal specialisation TESOL - 200 Point Program Informal specialisation Technology in Language Learning - 200 Point Program Major Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Specialisation (formal) Language Testing Informal specialisation Graduate Diploma in Arts - Linguistics and Applied Linguistics Informal specialisation Language Testing - 200 Point Program Specialisation (formal) TESOL Informal specialisation TESOL - 200 Point Program Specialisation (formal) English Language Informal specialisation English Language - 200 Point Program Informal specialisation Graduate Certificate in Arts - Linguistics and Applied Linguistics - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 11 April 2024