EDUC1230 Language Development

2020

4.5

14 x 1-hour lectures per semester
14 x 2-hour tutorials per semester

1 Admission into BEDECBSE-Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood), Bachelor of Special Education
1a Admission into BEDPRBSE-Bachelor of Education (Primary), Bachelor of Special Education
Must Satisfy: ((1 or 1a))

High literacy competency

Assignment(s), Test(s), Tutorial presentation

This topic will introduce students to language development in the early childhood and primary school years. Using evidence-based models, students will learn about the components of language including; semantics, syntax, morphology, phonology and pragmatics across expressive and receptive modalities and in spoken and written forms. A key focus is to highly develop students’ own linguistic knowledge which acts as a platform for understanding how to interpret the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the English - Language strand of the Australian Curriculum (AC). Students will learn how language development, including language difficulties, relate to Belonging, Being and Becoming within the EYLF. Students will develop knowledge in how language is presented in the English – Language strand of the AC including language variation and change, language for interaction, text structure and organisation, expressing and developing ideas, and phonics and word knowledge, as well as the achievement standards for each year level.

This topic aims to:

• Develop knowledge of how language develops in the early childhood and primary school years, including signals for language difficulties and characteristics of language difficulties or disorders

• Expose students to models of language development and the components of language across receptive, expressive, spoken and written modalities

• Ensure students develop their own linguistic knowledge including in the areas of morphology, orthography, phonological awareness and phonics

• Introduce the Early Years Learning Framework and the Australian Curriculum English Language strand and consider how language development is represented within these two frameworks

• Give students the opportunity to apply their developing understanding of linguistics, grammar, syntax, morphology, lexicology and phonology to children’s learning through the use of the Early Years Learning Framework and the Australian Curriculum

• Provide students with the knowledge base for future topics which include a focus on assessment and programming in language.

On completion of this topic, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Discuss models of language development, define the components of language including from multi-modal perspective, and demonstrate understanding of what constitutes typical and atypical language development for children in early childhood and primary schooling years

2. Identify and describe their own level of linguistic knowledge, how to further develop this knowledge and why this is important

3. Identify where language can be found in the Early Years Learning Framework and the Australian Curriculum and discuss its relevance within the Australian context

4. Articulate the developmental progression and ‘mechanics’ of language.