Teaching code

4S01263

Teacher

Chiara Melloni

Coordinatore

Chiara Melloni

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

L-LIN/01 - HISTORICAL AND GENERAL LINGUISTICS

Period

Sem 1A dal Sep 23, 2019 al Oct 31, 2019.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars

Learning outcomes

The course aims to introduce the students to the fascinating domain of first language acquisition, exploring both typical and atypical development, with particular reference to specific language impairment and developmental dyslexia. The course also aims to provide the students with some fundamental knowledge concerning bilingualism, with classes dedicated to the presentation of the cognitive and linguistic profile of children who learn the second language at an early age or from birth.
After completion of the course, the students:
- will know the main stages of the language acquisition process, in typical and atypical development and in the bilingual context;
- will be able to apply the tools of linguistic analysis to recognize and describe the main phenomena that characterize language acquisition at different levels of analysis (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and vocabulary);
- will be able to develop critical judgments regarding the interpretations that have been provided in the various theoretical frameworks with respect to the mechanisms of language acquisition.

Program

The course deals with the phenomenon of language acquisition by monolingual and bilingual children, with typical and atypical development.
Specific aspects of language acquisition will therefore be investigated with particular attention to:

- phonological phenomena: ability to discriminate between different languages and different phonemes;
- lexical phenomena: vocabulary learning skills, with particular reference to nouns and verbs;
- morphosyntactic phenomena: understanding and production of syntactic structures of different orders of complexity.

The developmental path will be investigated starting from the first steps in the perception of linguistic sounds by the newborn, up to the development of morphosyntactic skills of preschoolers.
Specific attention will be given to some key elements of atypical development, with a presentation of the linguistic profile of the subjects affected by Specific Language Impairment and Developmental Dyslexia. A final module (3 classes) will focus on the domain of bilingual acquisition and on the linguistic and cognitive profile of early bilingual children.

HOW TO ATTEND (to be updated!)
The lessons of this course will be delivered in "dual" mode, i.e. they will be held in presence and streamed via Zoom. The Tuesday lesson will instead be held in asynchronous mode (Panopto).

On the Moodle platform of this module, you will find the link through which you can attend class via Zoom: there will be no waiting room, but, please, wait for the meeting to be started. The lessons will be recorded (with the consent of those who participate remotely) and then deposited both on the Panopto platform and on the Moodle of this course.

To attend lessons in person, it is necessary to reserve a place in the classroom through the UNIVR Lezioni app. To follow via streaming it is necessary to subscribe to the Moodle platform of the course and have this course registered on your study plan in esse3.

Examination Methods

*** ATTENTION: Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and in accordance with the University of Verona guidelines, during ​the 2020 summer session the assessment modality will be modified as follows: ONLINE ORAL EXAMINATION (preferably via Zoom). However, the student is asked to keep pen and paper handy. ***

The final exam aims at assessing the theoretical knowledge acquired by the students during the course, as well as their ability to apply this knowledge to concrete linguistic phenomena.

The assessment is carried out by means of a written examination, which last 1:15 hours.

The tests consist of both open-ended and multiple-choice questions and concern all the topics in the program, both those addressed during classes and those autonomously studied by the students.

The evaluation criteria are:
- substantial correctness of the responses and exhaustiveness of the contents
- adequateness of analytical skills
- expressive clarity and argumentative skills

There are no different exam methods for non-attending students. However, attending students who participate in group work and presentations will be able to receive bonus points (0-3) to be added to the score obtained in the exam.