Open Online Course: “L2/FL for learners with atypical development”

Course Outline:

The aim of this course is to provide an overview of the various issues implicated in Second Language (L2) and Foreign Language (FL) teaching and learning, with a particular focus on students with atypical development. The course first sets the background to this topic by discussing relevant official reports. A brief description of language development and language disorders in monolingual individuals follows. After issues of bilingualism are discussed, subsequent lectures focus on L2 and FL teaching and learning in atypical learners (hearing impairment, autism spectrum disorder, developmental language disorder, intellectual disability, dementia). The role of the home environment in the language learning experiences of atypical learners is then considered. The course concludes with the language teachers’ perspective.

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Main Topics Addressed:
Week 1: Introduction – Legislation and official reports on Special Needs Education
Week 2: Language development & disorders
Week 3: Bilingualism
Week 4: Hearing Impairment
Week 5: Developmental Language Disorder
Week 6: Autism
Week 7: Intellectual disability
Week 8: Dementia
Week 9: The role of the home environment
Week 10: Language teachers’ attitudes and training
Weeks 11-12: Assessment 1 – Student presentations

Learning outcomes:By the end of this course, students will be able to:
•    reflect on how L2 and FL learning differs from L1 learning in the case of atypical learners,
•    understand the importance of L2/FL learning for atypical learners,
•    explore the characteristics of specific cases of atypical development,
•   demonstrate knowledge of how social factors can influence the language learning experiences of atypical learners,evaluate how language teachers’ attitudes and training can influence the language learning experiences of atypical learners.

CIVIS Focus Area: Society, Culture, Heritage
Open to: BA, MA students
Course Dates: A maximum of 15 international CIVIS students will be accepted in the course in a total of 30 students.
Dates: Beginning of March – End of May
Field of Studies: Social Sciences and Humanities
ECTS: 4
Format: Virtual 
Weekly study: 5 hours
Language: English (B2)  Lectures, students’ presentations, and discussions will be in English.
Requirements: This virtual course is open to BA and MA students at one of the ten CIVIS member universities, with an advanced level and/or a Bachelor’s/ Master degree in Languages, Linguistics, Special Education or Psychology.
Schedule of the course: Ten 2-hour sessions and two 3-hour sessions at the end of the course (Weeks 11-12).
Application deadline: Applicants should fill-in the online application form and submit it by 27th of February 2023. [Extension for the applications]
Evaluation criteria: If the number of applicants exceeds the number of spaces available, a choice will be made on the basis of applicants’ CV and motivation, as expressed on the application form.
Course Assessment: Individual student presentation of a research article (duration 10 min), 30% Final written assignment (1.500 words)
Registrations: Complete the following form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexhItZ_n5m6BF4mC9KD-1CLQZTUm7XaKIoAuwt8F1Q5oJCmA/viewform

For more information, interested applicants can contact the instructor of the course in the following address: Eva.Kyritsi@phil.uoa.gr

Instructor:
Dr. Evangelia Kyritsi is a member of the Laboratory Teaching Staff at the Department of Linguistics (Faculty of Philology), National Kapodistrian University of Athens. She holds a PhD in Clinical Linguistics (School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading), an MA in Clinical Linguistic Research (School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading) and a BA in English Language and Literature. She has work experience teaching English as a foreign language to students with hearing impairment, autism spectrum disorders, language disorders and intellectual disability.