First Language Acquisition

This subject is not offered in 2012.

3 contact hours/week, 5.5 additional hours/week. Total of 8.5 hours per week.

Formerly available as 175-200 and 175-009 First Language Acquisition. Students who have completed these subjects are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject is an overview of some principal issues in first language acquisition, including children's language development (from pre-speech onwards), grammatical, semantic and pragmatic development, and the continued development of language through the school years. The variability and individual differences in relation to current theoretical models of language acquisition and cognitive and social development will also be examined. Focus is on the acquisition of English, but cross-cultural material will be included for comparison.

• understand how the linguistic system develop in the child, including the sound system, grammar, meaning, pragmatics, and awareness of language.
• understand the range of individual variation within language acquisition.
• understand what aspects of language develop during the school years, how bilingual children develop language, and have a basic understanding of the range of language delays and disorders.

A 1500-word project assignment 30% (due in first half of semester). a mid-year quiz 20%. a 2000-word major essay 40% (due end of semester). and class participation 10%.

This subject has the following hurdle requirements:

• Regular participation in tutorials is required with a minimum of 75% attendance.
• All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day and in-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.

• First Language Acquisition (Eve V Clark) CUP, 2003

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

• should be able to think critically.
• should be able to effectively communicate ideas in writing.
• should be able to make a brief presentation.