Syllabus

SEE University, Tetovo
Faculty of Languages, Cultures, and Communication
English Department


Course Title: Second Language Acquisition
Instructor: Sabrina Resa, MA
Office Hours: TBA
Office: Language Center, 1002.09
E-mail: s.resa@seeu.edu.mk

Course description:

Students will gain a basic understanding of theories of and research in methods in First Language Acquisition, factors related to Language Acquisition, Cross-Linguistic Influences, and Theories of Second Language Acquisition.

Attendance policy:

In accordance with the university’s attendance policy, students must attend 70% of the meetings in order to be able to pass the course. If a student misses more than 30 % of the classes, the student will automatically fail the course, regardless of performance on the assignments. The dismissal of excused absences (medical appointments, family emergencies, etc.) will be taken up on a case by case basis.

Textbooks:

Each student must purchase a copy of:

Course Reader

Assessment:

Assessment in this course will be made up of attendance, participation (in-class), online discussions, readings checks, and a Final Project.
Attendance
10 %
Participation (In-class & Online) This includes attitude, punctuality, and activity.
20 %
Short Research Essay
10%
Presentation
30%
Final Exam
30%
Total
100 %











Grading Rubric:

Grade Scale
Grade Description
Grade
Points
95% - 100%
Excellent
10.0
86% - 94%
Very good
9.0
77% - 85%
Good
8.0
68% - 76%
Satisfactory
7.0
60% - 67%
Passing
6.0
59% - below
Failing
5.0

Incomplete (IN)
0.0











Incomplete (IN): An incomplete grade may be assigned if a student has not finished all course requirements by the end of the semester, but has completed a substantial amount of the work. It is the student’s responsibility to bring pertinent information to the teacher and to reach an agreement on how the remaining course requirements will be satisfied. If requirements are not completed within one year, a failing grade is automatically assigned.

Late Work: The professor will deduct 10% per day including weekends and holidays for late work. If a student will be absent, it is the student’s responsibility to speak with the professor to get the absence excused. Please see the attendance policy for further information about getting absences excused.

Miscellaneous Information:

1) You may bring beverages to class, but not food.

2) All grades are final-no exceptions!

3) Plagiarism and cheating will result in a zero for the assignment-no exceptions! Plagiarism and cheating are defined as follows:

Plagiarism & Cheating:

Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else's work, including the work of other students, as one's own. Any ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged, unless the information is common knowledge. What is considered "common knowledge" may differ from course to course.
a. A student must not adopt or reproduce ideas, opinions, theories, formulas, graphics, or pictures of another person without acknowledgment.
b. A student must give credit to the originality of others and acknowledge an indebtedness whenever:
1. Directly quoting another person's actual words, whether oral or written;
2. Using another person's ideas, opinions, or theories;
3. Paraphrasing the words, ideas, opinions, or theories of others, whether oral or written;
4. Borrowing facts, statistics, or illustrative material; or
5. Offering materials assembled or collected by others in the form of projects or collections without acknowledgment.
(from: Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, Part II, Student Responsibilities, Academic Misconduct, By action of the University Faculty Council (April 12, 2005) and the Trustees of Indiana University (June 24, 2005).)
Cheating is defined as obtaining or attempting to obtain, or aiding another to obtain credit for work, or any improvement of evaluation of performance, by any dishonest or deceptive means. Cheating includes, but is not limited to: lying; copying from another’s test, unless such discussion is specifically authorized by the instructor; taking or receiving copies of an exam without the permission of the instructor, using or displaying notes, "cheat sheets," or other information devices inappropriate to the prescribed test conditions; and allowing someone other than the officially enrolled student to represent same.
(from: cla.calpoly.edu)
Course Outline
Week 1: April 24th
Topic: The syllabus will be available online.

Homework:
1) Reading: Chapter 2-First Language Acquisition
2) Online Discussion: Go to our new blogsite: http://seeu2009sla.com. Answer the question: Which Approach makes the most sense to you as a viable Approach to First Language Acquisition: Behaviorist Approaches, Nativist Approaches, or Functional Approaches? Why?

Week 2: May 8th
Topic: First Language Acquisition

Homework: Reading: Chapter 3-Age & Acquisition

Week 3: May 22nd
Topic: Age & Acquisition

Homework:
1) Reading: Chapter 10-Theories of Second Language Acquisition

Week 4: June 5th
Topic:
1) Presentations: Groups 1-3
2) Theories of Second Language Acquisition

Week 5: June 19th
Topic:
1) Presentations: Groups 4-5
2) Theories of Second Language Acquisition

Homework:
1) Reading: Chapter 8-Cross-Linguistic Influence and Learner Language
2) Short Research Essay

Week 6: July 3rd (Online)
Topic: Cross-Linguistic Influence and Learner Language

Week 7: July 17th (Online)
Topic: Online Final Exam due on Sunday, July 19th before 5pm. No late exams will be accepted.