. ?

(F6.00)

DESIGNS FOR LEARNING: FRENCH

AS A

SECOND LANGUAGE

Intersession 1995

?

Professor: Diane Dagenais

May 8 - June 23,

1995 ?

Telephone: 291-3222

Tuesday and Thursday: 16:30-20:20

Location: Milner Educational Centre

6656 Glover Road, Langley

PREREQUISITE:

Teaching Certificate

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course aims at demystifying second language instruction by examining the links and differences between first

and second language acquisition. Second language education has drawn on knowledge about first language learning

to trace a picture of second language development. Recent work in this area highlights the similar focus on

making meaning during the acquisition processes across languages. Yet, there remain differences in the surface

features of each linguistic system and in the cultural practices surrounding language use. Moreover, the status of

the first and second language can vary according to social and educational contexts. This naturally has an impact

on the particular type of classroom support needed to foster growth in a given language.

Through a variety of large group, small cooperative group, and individual activities, we will explore our own

processes as second language learners and work with a number of classroom approaches that can be applied to

teaching French as a second language. Current Ministry documents, curriculum practices, and teaching materials

related to the second language classroom will also be examined.

OUTLINE OF TOPICS

• Strategies and individual processes in second language acquisition

• Reapplication of knowledge from the first to the second languages

• Communicative competence approaches to teaching and theories of language

• T

he role of over-generalizations

• Cultural patterns of language use

• Contextual support in second language learning

• Connections between oral and written communication in the second language class

• Authentic versus contrived learning materials

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Term project and presentation ........................................................40%

Portfolio of language resources and materials....................................30%

Reading response log ...................................................................30%

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Rivers, W. (1987). Interactive Language Teachin

g

. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Nunan, D. (1991). Language Teaching Methodolog

y

. Englewood, NJ: Prentice Hall.

RECOMMENDED TEXTS

Skehan, P. (1989). Individual Differences in Second Language Learning. London, UK: Routledge.

Stern, H.H. (1992). Issues and Options in Language Teaching. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.