SOW-DGCN19
Using and Acquiring Multiple Languages
Course infoSchedule
Course moduleSOW-DGCN19
Credits (ECTS)6
CategoryMA (Master)
Language of instructionEnglish
Offered byRadboud University; Faculty of Social Sciences; Cognitive Neuroscience;
Lecturer(s)
PreviousNext 1
Lecturer
dr. G.J. Kootstra
Other course modules lecturer
Examiner
prof. dr. K.M. Lemhöfer
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
prof. dr. K.M. Lemhöfer
Other course modules lecturer
Coordinator
prof. dr. K.M. Lemhöfer
Other course modules lecturer
Contactperson for the course
prof. dr. K.M. Lemhöfer
Other course modules lecturer
Academic year2022
Period
SEM1  (05/09/2022 to 27/01/2023)
Starting block
SEM1
Course mode
full-time
Remark
Please note: if you do not yet have a master's registration, you are not yet registered for the tests for this course.
Remarks-
Registration using OSIRISYes
Course open to students from other facultiesNo
Pre-registrationNo
Waiting listNo
Placement procedure-
Aims
After completion of the course, students should be able to discuss recent psychological, neuroscientific, and linguistic developments in the domain of multilingualism. They should also understand the rationale underlying recent studies in terms of their methodological, theoretical, and modelling aspects. Finally, the course will train skills of critical reflection on the literature by requiring essay questions and leading a student-led session on one specific research theme.
Content
Neuroscientific and (psycho)linguistic approaches to multilingualism are considered to characterize how multilinguals read, listen, speak, and learn foreign languages. Processes and representations are described at sublexical (phonemic and syllabic), lexical, syntactic, semantic, and dialogue levels. The focus of the course lies on a still-unresolved but central question: Since languages sometimes help each other and sometimes fight each other during processing, what determines the balancing act between the various languages in the multilingual mind? An in-depth understanding of this issue requires a consideration of the types of stimulus materials and research techniques in use, the effects of age of acquisition, and the available bilingual models of language (non)selective access and executive control. Complex issues like word translation and foreign-accented speech are informative here as well.

In alternation with the teachers’ lectures, students will contribute to the specific “topic of the week” (introduced by the lecturer in the first meeting of a week) by designing a student-led activity during the second meeting in a week. This can be a ‘traditional’, in-depth presentation of individual studies / articles, but can also be a mini-experiment, a data set analysis, a demonstration or similar. Students will form pairs to design and lead such an activity, in consultation with the respective teacher. The grade for this activity is a pass/fail, and will be mostly reliant on creativity and quality of preparation than on perfect execution.

Course literature will be announced on Brightspace in due course.
Level

Presumed foreknowledge

Test information
In order to pass the course, the presentation / student-led session has to be graded by a 'pass'. If that is not the case in the first place, an individual opportunity for a retake will be offered in consultation with the respective teacher.
The final exam is a take-home exam (to be submitted after four weeks) with essay-like questions on issues discussed in the course.
Specifics

Assumed previous knowledge
This course is for CNS students only. Non-CNS students can contact Ellen Janssen (e.janssen@donders.ru.nl) or Arno Koning ( a.koning@donders.ru.nl).

Required materials
Course material
Lecture notes and relevant chapters from books on bilingualism and recent research articles on (neuro)cognitive aspects of bilingualism.

Instructional modes
Lecture
Attendance MandatoryYes

General
Lectures by teachers

Presentation
Attendance MandatoryYes

General
15-minute oral presentations by students on selected topics in bilingualism

Tests
take home exam
Test weight1
Test typeExam
OpportunitiesBlock SEM2, Block SEM2

Remark
NOTE: enrollment for a course automatically registers you for its exam. For participating in the retake, register again.

Presentation
Test weight0
Test typePresentation
OpportunitiesBlock SEM1, Block SEM2