Students will get a state of the art knowledge of the main theories and models of Second Language Acquisition (SLA). The course also includes selected information on the cognitive devices - both general-domain and language-specific - that support the process of language learning/acquisition in adulthoo
Course Prerequisites
In preparation for the topics covered in this advanced course, students prior to lessons are requested to read a chapter of the book 'Key questions in Second language acquisition' (see below). Each chapter will be commented upon before classes start. Such readings (and participation to discussion) are mandatory. The course is held in Italian, but all texts are in English.
Teaching Methods
Lectures and seminars based on weekly assignments (see above)
Assessment Methods
Written exam
Texts
(1) VanPatten, B., Smith, M and Benati A.G (2020) Key Questions in Second Language Acquisition. An Introduction, Cambridge-New York: Cambridge University Press (available in hard copy at the University Library) (2) VanPatten, B & Williams, J. (Eds) (2015 – second edition), Theories in Second Language Acquisition. An Introduction, New York – Abingdon: Routledge (available for download as an e-book from the Library online catalogue).
