© Dr. Loren R. Schmidt, 1999-2015
No part of this syllabus may be used or reprouced
in any manner whatsoever without written permission.
Course Description and Outcomes
This course provides a foundation in linguistics as it relates to educational theory and practice. More specifically, the course addresses the application of linguistics to the teaching and learning of K-12 English language learners. Topics include English structures and analysis, as well as pedagogical strategies to promote language acquisition.
We will examine fundamental technical aspects of language such as phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. With those skills in hand, we will then peruse the applications of that theoretical knowledge to issues in education with ties to psychological and sociological elements of learning and pedagogy. Topics will include first and subsequent language acquisition, the relationship between reading and phonetics/phonology, the debate concerning the value of teaching syntax in improving writing skills, the nature of and a variety of social issues connected to language (sexist/__-ist language, the bilingual education debate, and the U.S. English movement, among others).
In general, the course has these outcomes for students to pursue:
1. Understand the fundamental principles of linguistic theory, both descriptive and historical.
2. Become familiar with the phonetic alphabet and phonological elements of language.
3. Be able to identify the morphological, syntactic, and semantic/pragmatic elements of language.
4. Know the connections between those elements and "real-life" teaching, personal, and social contexts.
5. Apply the principles and techniques to those real-world contexts.