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Unit name |
Language and Literacy |
Unit code |
SPOL30015 |
Credit points |
20 |
Level of study |
H/6
|
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
|
Unit director |
Dr. Lucas |
Open unit status |
Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None
|
Co-requisites |
None
|
School/department |
School for Policy Studies |
Faculty |
Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Description including Unit Aims
The unit provides students with an overview of current understanding about the development of language and literacy in young children (0-8years). Topics covered include: Learning to speak and understand, theories of language acquisition, Bilingualism and multilingualism, understanding speech and language difficulties, learning to read, learning to write and spell and problems of literacy. The course draws heavily on theory and research from the fields of psychology and linguistics, but we will also draw conclusions from for education in the early and primary years.
This unit aims to
- To provide students with an overview of current theories and research on the development of language and the acquisition of literacy
- To examine the implications of research and theory for education settings and to evaluate educational approaches in the light of this
- To describe and explain common disorders of language and speech
- To describe and explain common disorders of reading and writing
- To consider different contexts for language acquisition
By the end of the studying this unit, students should be equipped to:
- Establish a critical understanding of relevant research
- Develop report writing and essay writing skills
- Develop skills of structured observation
- Evaluate educational approaches to early literacy
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the studying this unit, students should be equipped to:
- Establish a critical understanding of relevant research;
- Carry out their own research in this area
- Develop skills of systematic observation;
- Develop report writing and essay writing skills; and
- Evaluate educational approaches to early literacy
Teaching Information
Lectures, fieldwork and seminars.
Assessment Information
Coursework report of 2000 words as formative assessment.
3,000 word essay as summative assessment.
Reading and References
- Whitehead M (2010) Language & Literacy in the Early Years 0-7 (4th Edn) London:Sage
- Harley, T A (2008) The psychology of language: from data to theory. 3rd ed. Hove : Psychology Press
- Browne, A. (2009) Developing Language & Literacy 3-8. Sage
- Pinker (1994) The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language. London: Penguin Press