| CODE | IAL2014 | ||||||
| TITLE | The Development of Communication and Language | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Inclusion and Access to Learning | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit introduces students to the key topics in language development, including how research is conducted in this area, the theoretical perspectives, and major language milestones in first language acquisition from birth to adolescence and beyond. The study-unit includes an introduction to language disorders and how to facilitate language in the classroom. It aims at helping the student to build knowledge about language development theory and transfer this into practice. The material presented in this study-unit is of utmost relevance to students鈥� current and future experiences in the educational and research settings offering also new pedagogical practices. Study-Unit Aims: The aim of the study-unit is to help students to identify and apply language development theories with practice offering new pedagogical practices they can use within an inclusive setting. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe the building blocks of language and theories of language development; - Explain major theories of language acquisition; - Describe language achievement during infancy, toddlerhood, preschool, school age and beyond; - Describe language during preschool and explain how literacy is built on Language; - Describe language disorders in children; - Explain and justify language strategies used to stimulate development of language and communication skills; - Identify factors that influence the acquisition of language and communication skills. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply their knowledge of the building blocks of language to plan language support strategies; - Identify the need for intervention based on a scientific rationale; - Apply knowledge of language and communication development to identify current skills of the student in the classroom environment; - Conduct and adapt specific language strategies to the different developmental stages of a child's development; - Evaluate improvements based on language strategies used; - Understand why and how to liaise with relevant professionals regarding speech, language and communication needs of a student. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Turnbull K.L.P., Laura M. Justice L.M. (2016) (3rd Ed). Language development from theory to practice. Pearson. - Lightbown, P and Spada, N (2013, 4th edition), How languages are learned, Oxford, OUP. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Elayne Azzopardi Phyllisienne Gauci |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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