ETL711- Learning An Additional Language

ASSIGNMENT 1:  LEARNING LOG

Due Date: 1st May 2025 via the unit site

Assignment 1 focuses on three broad aspects of SLA: the study of learner language, how research in SLA is conducted, and individual differences. The assignment consists of four tasks, as outlined below.

Please note that all tasks must be sufficiently referenced using academic sources. If you need assistance with referencing, please visit http://www.deakin.edu.au/students/study-support/referencing.

Task 1 – 650 words

Interlanguage (IL) is a complex and dynamic phenomenon that provides insights into the nature of language learners’ knowledge.

Write an academic reflection addressing the following questions:

• What does IL tell us about learners’ knowledge of the language?
• What are the implications of IL for our understanding of language learning?
• What is the value of grammar instruction to the development of IL?

Task 2 – 850 words

Different research studies reflect different disciplines and different ways of understanding language and the process of language learning. For example, some research looks at particular elements of language, e.g. vocabulary, and how these are learnt. Other research examines language learners in their social context to establish whether connections exist between specific factors and language learning.

By examining SLA research, we can see that researchers focus on different aspects of language learning. Does this suggest anything about the way(s) in which they understand language and language learning? What sorts of theoretical or philosophical positions are reflected in the background given to the study? How does the kind of data collected for the study give us an indication of the theoretical underpinnings?

Choose one of the two journal articles listed under the ‘Resources for Assignment 1’ tab that reports a specific study in language acquisition.  Discuss how the research questions and the research processes chosen for the study reflect the researchers’ beliefs about language, language learning and language learners.

You may wish to consider the data types, elicitation procedures, analysis, and the design of the study. How is evidence collected to answer the question asked about language learning? Describe the research question and process, and critically reflect on the theories of language and language acquisition on which the researchers draw.

Task 3 – 500 words

Choose one of the following two focus questions and write a reflection incorporating issues raised in the academic literature:

• How does the learner's first language influence their learning of another language?
• How does the learner's age influence their learning of another language?

Task 4 – 500 words