2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ENGL32950 Children's English

20 creditsClass Size: 20

School of English

Module manager: Dr Anthea Fraser Gupta
Email: a.f.gupta@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

Pre-requisite qualifications

Students wishing to take this module must have passed an introduction to language study in the School of English or another department (such modules include 'Language, Text and Context', 'Foundations of Language Study', 'Language Methodologies and Research Methods', a Level 1 module in Linguistics and Phonetics, or similar modules in other departments in Modern Languages). If you do not meet this requirement, but do have an A in English language A-level, and you wish to do this module, you should consult the module tutor, as should any student who is uncertain whether they meet the pre-requisite requirements.

Please note: This module is restricted to Level 2 and 3 students.

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module is for those who have some background in the study of linguistics and who want to learn more about how children become users of English. The focus is on the development of English in a social context. This module does not repeat, but rather complements, modules in other departments in Psycholinguistics or Language Acquisition, which have a more theoretical organisation. There is an outline of the normal development of English in children exposed to Standard English. We will also look at: children's bilingual development of English; the acquisition of non-standard varieties of English; and disorders in the acquisition of English. We will also examine the educational context of English, and touch on TV and books for children. One of the forms of assessment requires analysis of English from a child (or group of children): you must have access to a child you can work with!

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to understand the general pattern of first language acquisition, with special reference to acquisition of Standard English. They should be aware of the major theoretical issues in the field of child language acquisition. They should be able to assess the importance of social factors in the acquisition and learning of English, including issues relating to bilingualism, to the role of language in education, and to the role of literature and TV.

Learning outcomes
Students will have developed:
the ability to use written and oral communication effectively;
the capacity to analyse and critically examine diverse forms of discourse;
the ability to manage quantities of complex information in a structured and systematic way;
the capacity for independent thought and judgement;
critical reasoning;
research skills, including the retrieval of information, the organisation of material and the evaluation of its importance;
IT skills;
efficient time management and organisation skills;
the ability to learn independently.

Skills outcomes
Skills for effective communication, oral and written.
Capacity to analyse and critically examine diverse forms of discourse.
Ability to acquire quantities of complex information of diverse kinds in a structured and systematic way.
Capacity for independent thought and judgement.
Critical reasoning.
Research skills, including information retrieval skills, the organisation of material, and the evaluation of its importance.
IT skills.
Time management and organisational skills.
Independent learning.Skills for effective communication, oral and written.
Capacity to analyse and critically examine diverse forms of discourse.
Ability to acquire quantities of complex information of diverse kinds in a structured and systematic way.
Capacity for independent thought and judgement.
Critical reasoning.
Research skills, including information retrieval skills, the organisation of material, and the evaluation of its importance.
IT skills.
Time management and organisational skills.
Independent learning.

Syllabus

This module will give students a general idea of the normal development in children exposed to Standard English. The acquisition of English will be discussed from an applied perspective and will be related to social and educational issues. There will be discussion of acquisition of non-standard varieties of English; of bilingual acquisition of English and of disorders in the acquisition of English. We will touch on TV and fiction for children. Each student will be required to find a child or group of children who will be the topic of a project. The project will depend on the child(ren) chosen. Students will get valuable experience of the challenges of fieldwork and will discover the complexities that can be raised by studies that seem simple beforehand. Many classes will involve discussion of issues raised by the children the class members have selected. Other classes will discuss readings and conceptual issues.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	5	1.00	5.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			185.00
Total Contact hours			15.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Seminar preparation, reading, assignment writing.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Contribution to seminars.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Project	Project report (3000 words)	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		60.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Open Book exam	8 hr	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		40.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 24/04/2008

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