1. Language Acquisition

2. AL: A field of applied linguistics
Problem oriented
Can deaf children learn to speak if they get a hearing device at 1, 7 or 14?
Should mothers correct „lót”, „kenyért”, „garazsat”, „tégem”, „goed” and „wented”? Do they?
Why do bilingual kids start speaking later? Is it a disadvantage?
Shall I take my child to a
Helen Doron language school
at 6 months?

3. Empirical Multi-disciplinary How would you investigate
what mothers/teachers actually correct and how?
if bilingual speakers are good translators?
why an adult learner is
incapable of passing the
intermediate language
exam, essential to keep
his job?

4. Aspects of LA Process and product First and second language
Genetic code and imitation
Whorf’s hypothesis

5. First language acquisition
Nature or nurture?
Stages
Influences
Theories
Imitation
Innateness
Interaction
Connectionsim

6. The critical period in FLA: Wild children
Is there a limit to our language learning capacity?
Constraints
Different CPHs in different areas of language

7. Second language acquisition: Differences between L1 and L2
Feature L1 L2
Overall success
Perfect
Not perfect
Variation
Little
Route
Context
Age
Personality factors
Goals
Target language competence ?
Fossilisation
Unknown
Common
Instruction
Not needed
Helpful or necessary
Negative evidence
No correction
Correction is helpful
Affective factors
Not involved
Play a major role

8. Focus on variation

9. Bilingualism
The bilingual advantage
Different types

10. Course requirements Regular attendance
Preparing for class (always bring the material to class!)
Active participation
A 5-10 mins. presentation on a chosen topic
Completing 2 tests
The lecture course ends with an exam