Language Acquisition PG (11387.1)

Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
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Language Acquisition PG
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
Online self-paced
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Education
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Academic Program Area - Education Post Graduate Level Band 1 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 1 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit provides students with knowledge of how a second language is learned. It covers a range of issues relevant to the description and explanation of second language acquisition processes. The unit also provides insights into language acquisition processes in other areas, such as first language acquisition. Students will look critically at theories and research findings of language acquisition and develop their skills as teacher-researcher.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Explain (second) language acquisition processes;
2. Recognise various factors underlying language acquisition processes; and
3. Apply their knowledge to better understand their learners in a creative, research-driven way.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

Students must be enrolled in or have already passed 11388 English Grammar PG OR 11384 Study of Language G.

Equivalent units

7656 Language Acquisition G

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-campus Dr Elke Stracke
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 Online self-paced Dr Elke Stracke
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Dr Elke Stracke
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 Online self-paced Dr Elke Stracke
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

Lists of required texts/readings

- Our textbook: Lightbown, P. M., & Spada, N. (2021). How languages are learned (5th ed). Oxford University Press (available in hard copy and as e-book in UC Library)

Additional resources are available on the unit Canvas site.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

All assessment items required to be submitted online must be submitted via the appropriate Canvas drop box. It is the student's responsibility to upload the correct and corresponding draft or assessment item to the right submission section. Assignments must be submitted in a format accessible to the assessor(s), as stated on the relevant canvas site. If the unit convener and/or tutor are unable to access a submission, or if no submission has been made by the due date and time, a standard late penalty of 10% of the total marks possible for the task may be applied per day, for three days, after which the submission will receive a score of ‘0' in keeping with UC's Assessment Policy.

Special assessment requirements

Normally an aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the unit.

Moderation AND Provision of valid documentation

Moderation

Moderation is used in the TESOL courses to maintain agreed standards in the assessment of student work through a valid, consistent and transparent process, in line with the UC Assessment policy. Sample assignments at different grade levels will be moderated for each assessment item in each unit. All summative assessments with a mark of 45 or more but less than 50 percent are moderated.

Provision of valid documentation

Please note that the University takes student conduct very seriously. All documentation provided to University staff must be valid and the provision of fraudulent documentation carries with it potentially serious consequences, including suspension and/or exclusion from the University. Note that all allegations of student misconduct will be referred to the Associate Dean for Education (ADE) as a prescribed authority for investigation.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

Students are expected to devote ten hours a week for the completion of the unit and the remaining hours can be allocated to unit related tasks based on students' preference and need. Students are expected to actively engage in all synchronous and asynchronous sessions and activities in the unit, complete the required readings and tasks, and work in groups.

The following breakdown is suggested:

Reading relevant sources: 40 hours

Preparation for assessment: 40 hours

Online engagement in asynchronous activities on Canvas: 58 hours

Participation in synchronous sessions on Canvas: 12 hours

Participation requirements

There is a strong correlation between participation and success in higher education. Your participation in on-campus sessions and your engagement with online activities will enhance your understanding of this unit's content and therefore the quality of your assessment responses. Lack of participation may result in your inability to satisfactorily pass assessment items.

Required IT skills

Students are expected to have word processing and IT skills to allow them to fully engage in the unit through Canvas and to complete their assessment. This includes basic word processing skills, engagement in Canvas activities, posting messages, uploading video and audio files, uploading assignments, and using the library catalogue and library databases. Students should ensure they have access to a computer and a safe workspace to complete the online activities.

Generative Artificial Intelligence

The use of Artificial intelligence services must not to be used for assessment or assessment preparation by students unless explicitly allowed in the assessment instructions for an assessment task.

Artificial intelligence services must not to be used for assessment or assessment preparation by students unless explicitly allowed in the assessment instructions for an assessment task published with the assessment task and/or in the unit outline. That is, an artificial intelligence services may only be used if:

  • its use is authorised by the unit convener as part of a specified assessment task, and
  • it is used in the way allowed in the assessment instructions and/or unit outline, and
  • its use is appropriately referenced, meaning that students must reference the use of AI in their assessment.

In-unit costs

There are no costs for our textbook. It is available for loan (hard copy and e-copy) in the UC library.

 

Work placement, internships or practicums

Not applicable to this unit.

Additional information

1. Formatting requirements

- Please respect the word limit as indicated in the unit outline/Canvas site.

- Written assignments are to be typed: 1.5 or double-spaced, size 12 Times New Roman, margin: default.

- Use page numbering.

- Check your work carefully for spelling and grammatical errors.

- Appendixes should be added at the end of your assignment and should be numbered.

- References should be organised based on the APA style (7th ed.).

- References should include only works which have been cited in the main text or appendices.

2. Research-led education: This unit involves research-led education. There are active researchers delivering this unit who are able to engage students in deep and active learning and transmit to students their passion for the research they are carrying out.

3. Provision of information to the group: Notifications through the Canvas Announcements Forum or the Canvas Discussion Forums are deemed to be made to the whole class.  It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they check for announcements on the Unit's Canvas website (forum messages are also emailed to student email addresses only).  Students should ensure they check their student email regularly.  The Canvas discussion forums will be checked by staff regularly.

4. Use of student email account: The University Email policy states that "students wishing to contact the University via email regarding administrative or academic matters need to send the email from the University account for identity verification purposes".  Therefore all unit enquiries should be emailed using a student university email account. Students should contact servicedesk@canberra.edu.au if they have any issues accessing their university email account.

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