Students
LING334 – Child Language Acquisition
2013 – S1 Day
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Rosalind Thornton
Contact via rosalind.thornton@mq.edu.au
AHH 3N-516
By appointment
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| Credit points |
Credit points
3
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
[6cp of LING units at 200 level including (LING210(P) or LING214(P) or LING217(P) or PSY238(P))] or [6cp of LING units at 200 level and admission to GCertSphComm or GDipSphComm]
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit introduces students to current theories of language acquisition, and studies children's acquisition of word learning, morphology, syntax and pragmatics. Other topics include child bilingualism and child second language acquisition. Tutorials focus on working with data, including transcript data from children's spontaneous speech, and discussions of appropriate experimental methodologies for evaluating children's knowledge of language.
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Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Understand the relation between linguistic theory and theories of language acquisition
- Understand the predictions that different theories of language acquisition make for the developmental learning path
- Understand the range of methods used to assess children's grammatical competence and issues of ethical conduct in working with children
- Gain experience in research by testing an experimental hypothesis using data gathered from a database of child language. Demonstrate command of data analysis and presentation skills
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Due | Groupwork/Individual | Short Extension | AI Approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online Quiz | 15% | Week 5 | No | ||
| Data Report | 20% | Week 8 | No | ||
| Online Quiz | 15% | Week 10 | No | ||
| Research Article | 20% | Week 12 | No | ||
| Final Exam | 30% | Final Exam Period | No |
Online Quiz
Due: Week 5
Weighting: 15%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach:
This quiz tests students' understanding of the different theories of language acquisition
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Understand the relation between linguistic theory and theories of language acquisition
- Understand the predictions that different theories of language acquisition make for the developmental learning path
- Understand the range of methods used to assess children's grammatical competence and issues of ethical conduct in working with children
Data Report
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach:
Presentation of data for Research Article
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Gain experience in research by testing an experimental hypothesis using data gathered from a database of child language. Demonstrate command of data analysis and presentation skills
Online Quiz
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 15%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach:
Test of Topics in Early Grammars
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Understand the relation between linguistic theory and theories of language acquisition
- Understand the predictions that different theories of language acquisition make for the developmental learning path
- Understand the range of methods used to assess children's grammatical competence and issues of ethical conduct in working with children
Research Article
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach:
Write up of research project
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Understand the relation between linguistic theory and theories of language acquisition
- Understand the predictions that different theories of language acquisition make for the developmental learning path
- Gain experience in research by testing an experimental hypothesis using data gathered from a database of child language. Demonstrate command of data analysis and presentation skills
Final Exam
Due: Final Exam Period
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach:
Test of later topics in language acquisition
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Understand the relation between linguistic theory and theories of language acquisition
- Understand the predictions that different theories of language acquisition make for the developmental learning path
- Understand the range of methods used to assess children's grammatical competence and issues of ethical conduct in working with children
Delivery and Resources
Students need access to a computer. The course requires student to download an open access computer program which is used to search a database of child language.
Detailed information about the unit can be found on the ilearn website for the unit.
Lectures are recorded using Echo 360 and are available through ilearn.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Special Consideration Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at: http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
UniWISE provides:
- Online learning resources and academic skills workshops http://www.students.mq.edu.au/support/learning_skills/
- Personal assistance with your learning & study related questions.
- The Learning Help Desk is located in the Library foyer (level 2).
- Online and on-campus orientation events run by Mentors@Macquarie.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au/ses/.
IT Help
If you wish to receive IT help, we would be glad to assist you at http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the university's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students and it outlines what can be done.
Graduate Capabilities
Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Understand the relation between linguistic theory and theories of language acquisition
- Understand the predictions that different theories of language acquisition make for the developmental learning path
- Understand the range of methods used to assess children's grammatical competence and issues of ethical conduct in working with children
- Gain experience in research by testing an experimental hypothesis using data gathered from a database of child language. Demonstrate command of data analysis and presentation skills
Assessment tasks
- Online Quiz
- Data Report
- Online Quiz
- Research Article
- Final Exam
Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Understand the relation between linguistic theory and theories of language acquisition
- Understand the predictions that different theories of language acquisition make for the developmental learning path
- Gain experience in research by testing an experimental hypothesis using data gathered from a database of child language. Demonstrate command of data analysis and presentation skills
Assessment tasks
- Online Quiz
- Data Report
- Online Quiz
- Research Article
- Final Exam
Problem Solving and Research Capability
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
- Understand the range of methods used to assess children's grammatical competence and issues of ethical conduct in working with children
- Gain experience in research by testing an experimental hypothesis using data gathered from a database of child language. Demonstrate command of data analysis and presentation skills
Assessment tasks
- Data Report
- Research Article
Effective Communication
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- Gain experience in research by testing an experimental hypothesis using data gathered from a database of child language. Demonstrate command of data analysis and presentation skills
Assessment task
- Research Article
Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcome
- Understand the range of methods used to assess children's grammatical competence and issues of ethical conduct in working with children