ISSUES IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING
| Title | ΖΗΤΗΜΑΤΑ ΕΚΜΑΘΗΣΗΣ ΞΕΝΗΣ ΓΛΩΣΣΑΣ / ISSUES IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING |
| Title in German | Ausgewählte Themen des Erlernens der Fremdsprache |
| Code | ΑΚ0274 |
| Faculty | Philosophy |
| School | German Language and Literature |
| Cycle / Level | 1st / Undergraduate |
| Teaching Period | Winter/Spring |
| Common | Yes |
| Status | Active |
| Course ID | 600026698 |
Programme of Study: PPS Tmīmatos Germanikīs Glṓssas kai Filologías (2020-sīmera)
Registered students: 33
| Orientation | Attendance Type | Semester | Year | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KORMOS | EPILEGOMENA EIDIKEUSĪS | Winter | - | 6 |
| Academic Year | 2025 – 2026 |
| Class Period | Winter |
| Instructors from Other Categories | |
| Weekly Hours | 3 |
| Total Hours | 39 |
| Class ID | 600276339
|
Course Type 2021
Specialization / Direction
Mode of Delivery
- Face to face
Digital Course Content
- e-Study Guide https://qa.auth.gr/en/class/1/600276339
- At the Website of the School: https://www.del.auth.gr/el/spoudes/proptyxiakes-spoudes/analytikh-perigrafh-mathmaton-trexontos-etoys
- eLearning (Moodle):
Language of Instruction
- Greek (Instruction, Examination)
- German (Instruction, Examination)
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
Understand key concepts related to first (L1) and second language (L2) acquisition, as well as the fundamental theoretical approaches associated with them.
Analyze the role of Universal Grammar in second language acquisition and discuss the relevant theoretical perspectives.
Evaluate cognitive approaches that attempt to explain the process of learning a second language.
Understand the concept of (inter)language and apply it to the study of L2 learners’ language development.
Identify the factors that influence L2 acquisition and understand their significance in teaching practice.
Develop critical thinking and research skills related to the learning of German as a foreign language, and make use of academic literature in writing assignments.
The course combines theoretical knowledge and practical analysis, enabling students to gain an in-depth understanding of the process of learning German as a foreign language and to develop research-oriented thinking in the field of applied linguistics.
General Competences
- Apply knowledge in practice
- Retrieve, analyse and synthesise data and information, with the use of necessary technologies
- Adapt to new situations
- Make decisions
- Work autonomously
- Work in teams
- Work in an international context
- Work in an interdisciplinary team
- Generate new research ideas
- Design and manage projects
- Appreciate diversity and multiculturality
- Be critical and self-critical
- Advance free, creative and causative thinking
Course Content (Syllabus)
This course addresses the scientific field of Foreign Language Learning.
The primary aim is for students to become familiar with the basic concepts and to gain knowledge of the most important theoretical approaches related to foreign language learning. Special attention will be given to the interlanguage hypothesis, as well as to the factors (linguistic and individual) that influence foreign language learning.
Emphasis will be placed on the analysis of experimental studies that provide empirical data to support theories, as well as on the selection and development of new methodological tools.
Course Structure
1. Introduction – Basic concepts
2. Similarities and differences between first language acquisition (L1) and second language acquisition (L2)
3. Universal Grammar and L2 acquisition (1)
4. Universal Grammar and L2 acquisition (2)
5. The (inter)language of the L2 learner
6. Midterm written examination
7. Articles and guidelines for the term paper
8. Factors influencing L2 acquisition
9. Cognitive approaches to L2 acquisition (1)
10. Cognitive approaches to L2 acquisition (2)
11. Input and interaction
12. Social factors and context
13. Review and guidelines for the final examination
Keywords
language acquisition, L1, L2, interlanguage, transfer
Educational Material Types
- Slide presentations
- Multimedia
- Book
Use of Information and Communication Technologies
Use of ICT
- Use of ICT in Course Teaching
- Use of ICT in Laboratory Teaching
- Use of ICT in Communication with Students
- Use of ICT in Student Assessment
Course Organization
| Activities | Workload | ECTS | Individual | Teamwork | Erasmus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 39 | 1.6 | ✓ | ||
| Reading Assigment | 88 | 3.5 | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Written assigments | 18 | 0.7 | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Exams | 3 | 0.1 | ✓ | ||
| Other / Others | 2 | 0.1 | |||
| Total | 150 | 6 |
Student Assessment
Description
Assessment Criteria
Regular and active participation in class sessions (5%)
Short weekly individual or group assignments/presentations (15%)
Midterm closed-book written examination (10%)
Final written examination (70%)
(If the examination takes place remotely, it will be conducted orally.)
Students have the option, in consultation with the instructor, to write an additional individual written scientific paper, corresponding to an extra 3 ECTS credits. In this case, they must also register for the corresponding advanced course.
Student Assessment methods
- Written Exam with Multiple Choice Questions (Formative, Summative)
- Written Exam with Short Answer Questions (Summative)
- Written Exam with Extended Answer Questions (Summative)
- Written Assignment (Formative)
- Written Exam with Problem Solving (Summative)
Bibliography
Course Bibliography (Eudoxus)
Μπέλλα, Σ. (2011). Η δεύτερη γλώσσα. Αθήνα: Εκδόσεις Πατάκη.
Additional bibliography for study
Fromkin, V., Rodman, R. & Ηyams N. (2005). Εισαγωγή στη μελέτη της γλώσσας (Έ. Βάζου, Γ. Ξυδόπουλος, Φ. Παπαδοπούλου & Α. Τσαγγαλίδης, μετ.). Αθήνα: Εκδόσεις Πατάκη, 89-95.
Μaher, J. & Groves, J. (2012). Τσόμσκι. Εικονογραφημένος οδηγός. (Φ. Γαϊδατζή, μετ.). Αθήνα: Δημοσιογραφικός Οργανισμός Λαμπράκη Α.Ε.
Marinis, T. (2003). Psycholinguistics techniques in second language acquisition research. Second Language Research 19, 2: 144-161.
Miller, G. (1995). Γλώσσα και ομιλία. Σ. Βοσνιάδου (Επιμ.), Ι. Ετμεκτζογλου, Ι. Διακίδου, Ε. Παπαδημητρίου, μετ.). Αθήνα: Εκδόσεις Gutenberg.
Μιχαλοπούλου, Σ. (2004). «Κατάκτηση Ξένης Γλώσσας: Μια πειραματική προσέγγιση σχετικά με την κατάκτηση της σειράς των όρων της πρότασης από ενήλικους/ες Έλληνες και Ελληνίδες που μαθαίνουν τη Γερμανική ως ξένη γλώσσα». Στο: Μελέτες για την Ελληνική Γλώσσα 24, Πρακτικά 24ης Ετήσιας Συνάντησης του Τομέα Γλωσσολογίας, Τμήμα Φιλολογίας, Φιλοσοφική Σχολή, Α.Π.Θ., 9-11/5/2003, Εκδόσεις ΙΝΣ, Θεσσαλονίκη, 494-505.
Μιχαλοπούλου, Σ. (2021). «Παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν τη διαγλωσσική μεταφορά κατά την κατάκτηση της τρίτης γλώσσας. Δεδομένα από μία πειραματική προσέγγιση». Σε: Μαρκόπουλος, Θ., Χ. Βλάχος, Α. Αρχάκης, Δ. Παπαζαχαρίου, Γ. Ι. Ξυδόπουλος και Α. Ρούσσου (Επιμ.). Πρακτικά του 14ου Διεθνούς Συνεδρίου Ελληνικής Γλωσσολογίας. Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών, 5-8/9/2019, 854-864. ISBN: 978-618-5496-03-6 (Διαθέσιμο στο: https://pasithee.library.upatras.gr/icgl/article/view/3720/3763)
Roberts, L. (2012). Review article: Psycholinguistic techniques and resources in second language acquisition research. Second Language Research 28, 1: 113-127.
VanPatten, Β. & Benati, A. G. (2010). Key Terms in Second Language Acquisition. Continuum.
White, L. (2003). Second Language Acquisition and Universal Grammar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Studio Press.
Last Update
06-10-2025
