1.    RATIONALE.

Applied Linguistics can be defined as the field within the linguistics that deals with the analysis of the acquisition of first and second languages in a wide variety of contexts, the study of language itself isolated and embedded in a context and the role language plays as an outcome of specific social problems involving language.

The problems Applied Linguistics concerns itself with are likely to be:

·         How can we evaluate a school bilingual program?

·         How can we determine the literacy levels of a whole population?

·         What are the connections between the acquisition of a first language and the learning of a second or foreign one?

·         What characterizes the interaction between the language and the socio-cultural environments?

·         How do second or foreign language learners learn another language?

 

All these questions make us be aware of the need to enable our future teachers of English to know and make use of principles, strategies and activities that will make them be idoneous and skillful  to teach and communicate better. The study and use of Applied Linguistics permits our students to get knowledge and strategies concerning common problems kids and teenagers have when learning/acquiring a foreign language.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE.

 

By the end of this course, the student will be able to understand both internal and contextual influences in second language learning as well as develop research in different fields of applied linguistics concerning topics such as CLIL, CALL, Bilingual education and multiple intelligences.

 

 

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE.

• To identify the contribution of cognitive approaches to explain second language learning difficulties.
• To recognize the impact of the multiple intelligences theory on classroom interaction.
• To discuss the influence of society in the process of foreign language learning.
• To research on the most recent approaches to second language teaching and its main contributions.

 

AREA DISCUSSION PROBLEM

 

How can the different areas in the field of Applied linguistics contribute to the development of research skills in pre-service teachers while enriching their process of autonomy?

 

5.            COURSE DISCUSSION ISSUES.

 

• How can we differentiate the legal framework from the academic one?
• How can foreign language learning problems be solved from a cognitive approach to language learning?
• What can the theory of multiple intelligences contribute to improve the understanding of classroom interaction? 
• What are the main characteristics of social influence in foreign language learning?
• What are some recent second language teaching approaches and its main contributions?

6.            COMPETENCES.

• To identify the impact of the use of information in the society, economics and legal contexts.
• To understand the main points in a text
• To produce coherent texts about the topics seen in class.
• To identify causing relationships as well as deduce logic conclusions.
• To analyze a document, chapter of a book or written paper to take a position against of or in favor of a given argument.

1.            ACTIVITIES.

-Socializing the syllabus. Objectives/goals of the program. -Setting their own goals to be fulfilled at the end of this course.	Setting up the class: Introduction, general aspects about the program term, Syllabus socialization, draft the statement. Terms used in linguistics
How are the concepts of language, teaching, learning and mind connected to the acquisition of a second language?	Guided mediation on the differences between legal framework and the academic one. Prepare an approach performance for the project. Socialize the role of teacher and students based on constructivism. Language, Teaching, Learning and Mind: Language descriptions
What is the influence of neuro-linguistics in the field of ELT?	Present the project. Create and develop a workshop on the identification of the main contributions of neuro-linguistics in ELT.
How can teachers improve their teaching practice by identifying the influence of the theory of multiple intelligences in their teaching practice?	Four corners classroom technique:  students make presentations on the topic of the class and present their assigned topic in a corner of the classroom in 8 minutes.
What are the main characteristics of research in the field of second language acquisition?	Teacher gives a lecture on the topic of the session.