Language Learning: Norwegian as a Second Language

How do we learn a language? Is there any difference between learning a first and learning a second language? Does the learner’s age matter? Which role does the mother tongue play when learning a new language? Which theoretical models are applied in explaining second language learning? What is the effect of different pedagogical models? How is the teaching material structured? What is the curriculum of learning Norwegian as a second language, on which principles is it based, and how is it implemented? Questions like these are important in this course which has a theoretical approach to second language learning. The course also gives a brief introduction to second language teaching. By participating in lectures and practical tasks students are supposed to acquire skills in describing teaching activities and organize teaching.

KNOWLEDGE The candidate:
- Has basic knowledge about second language acquisition in children and adults.
- Has knowledge of key issues, theories, problems, processes and tools in second language acquisition in children and adults, and understands language acquisition as complex processes.
- Has basic knowledge of how teaching can be organized for further development of skills and learning of school subjects.
- Has basic knowledge of evaluation of language development.
- Has basic knowledge of language pedagogy, teaching methods, lesson planning, legislation and curricula.

SKILLS The candidate:
- Can explain fundamental issues that characterize second language learning.
- Can develop communication and teaching methods that facilitate language learning.
- Can reflect on and utilize experiences from own teaching practice.

Lectures. Evaluation: Written exam, compulsory activities must be approved before the final exam. The compulsory task must be based on the student’s own observations or on relevant theories. Size depends on the theme chosen, but in general 4-6 A4 pages text (line spacing 1,5). The proposed size does not include tables, figures.