Course Syllabus
General Information
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College of Arts and Letters
LAN 250 - Introduction to Language Study for Language Learners
Offered every fall semester
3 credit hours
Dr. Bernd Conrad
BAA 222
MWF 1-2
Course prerequisites
ARB 102, CHI 102, FRE 102, GER 102, ITA 102, JPN 102, or SPA 102
Course description
This course will foster knowledge of the universal principles of language organization in terms of phonology,
morphosyntax, semantics, as well as pragmatics and discourse analysis, and how the latter two shape our own
perceptions of self and our perceptions of others. In addition to obtaining an understanding of linguistic
principles that people share universally, the course will foster students' knowledge of the linguistic systems of
European languages, focusing on Romance and German language features. Students will also explore
language's use in the global market in terms of cross-cultural sociolinguistic issues and language policy.
Student Learning Expectations/Outcomes for this Course
The following outcomes are informed by programmatic needs as well as the department's Global Engagement
goals:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Students will be able to analyze the second language they study in terms of key phonological, syntactic,
morphological, lexical and discursive features.
Students will be able to identify as well as compare and contrast important current sociolinguistic and
sociological phenomena (e.g., gender, attitudes, identity, power, ways of framing discourse).
Students will demonstrate comprehension of the cultural and political interconnectedness of the cultures,
such as Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.
Students investigate historical, environmental, ethnic, and other related contemporary issues important to
life in target-language speaking countries.
Course structure/approach
The first three quarters of the course is dedicated to providing students with a foundation in the basics of
linguistics (e.g., phonology, syntax, lexicography, morphology, pragmatics, and discourse analysis). The class
will make every effort to contextualize such concepts in the particular foreign languages the students are
currently taking (e.g., French, German, Japanese, Chinese). The last quarter of the course will be dedicated to:
language attitudes, language identity, language and power, historical linguistics and the role of study abroad in
acquisition.
Revised 04/22/03
Textbook and required materials
Textbook
Bergmann, Anouschka, Kathleen Currie Hall, and Sharon Ross, eds. 2007. Language Files, 10th edition. The
Ohio State University Department of Linguistics. 978-0-8142-5163-8.
http://linguistics.osu.edu/research/publications/languagefiles/lf10toc.cfm
Chapters
Collentine, J.G. (2009). Study Abroad Research: Findings, Implications and Future Directions. In M. H. Long
& C. J. Catherine (Eds.) The Handbook of Language Teaching, 218-233. New York: Wiley.
Duszak, Anna (2002). Introduction: Us and Others. Social identities across languages, discourses and cultures.
In A. Duszak (ed.) Us and Others. Social identities across languages, discourses and cultures. (pp. 3-28).
Philadelphia, PA, USA: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Kertzer, D. and Arel, D. (2002). Introduction. In D. Kertzer and D. Arel (eds.) Census and Identity: The
Politics of Race, Ethnicity, and Language in National (pp. 1-42). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Kinginger, Celeste. 2004. Alice doesn't live here anymore: Foreign language learning and identity
reconstruction. In A. Pavlenko & A. Blackledge (eds.) Negotiation of identities in multilingual contexts (pp.
219-242). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
Semester project
Final exam
Exams
Homework
Participation
Grading System
A
B
C
D
F
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
< 60%
Course outline
Revised 04/22/03
10% You will compete a written project about one of the following broad topics to be
determined in conjunction with the intructor and in consideration of the second
language you are studying: language and identity, language and power, crosscultural communication, language and politics (e.g., language and globalization,
the language of sustainability politics). The paper will be a minimum of 10
pages not including bibliographical citations.
20% You will take a comprehensive written final exam at the end of the semester.
45% There will be 3 hour-long exams at regular intervals during the semester.
20% You will complete various homework assignments to develop your analytical
abilities in lingustics.
5% You will be assessed at the end of the semester as to the extent to which you
participated in class discussions, came to class prepared, and cooperated during
groupwork activities.
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Assigned Work
Language Files Chapter 1: Introduction,
Language Files Chapter 2: Phonetics
Continue Phonetics
Language Files Chapter 3: Phonology
Continue Phonology
Language Files Chapter 4: Morphology
Language Files Chapter 5: Syntax
Language Files Chapter 7: Pragmatics
Language Files Chapter 8: Language Acquisition
Language Files Chapter 10: Language Variation
Language Files Chapter 11: Language Contact
Language identity and attitudes
Read: Duszak (2002), Kinginger (2004)
Week 13
Language and power
Work Due/Exams
Homework 1
Homework 2
Homework 3
Exam 1
Homework 4
Homework 5
Homework 6
Homework 7
Exam 2
Homework 8
Homework 9
Outline of semester paper (2
page minimum and
preliminary bibliography)
Semester paper: Introduction
plus relevant bibliography
Read: Kertzer and Arel (2002)
Week 14
Historical linguistics
Week 15
Read: Language Files Chapter 12: Language
Change
Study abroad and language acquisition
Semester paper: body,
revisions, plus relevant
bibliography
Exam 3
Read: Collentine (2009)
Week 16
End of semester week
Read:
Semester paper: conclusions,
revisions, plus relevant
bibliography.
Final exam: Consult the final exam schedule at:
http://home.nau.edu/registrar/calendars.asp
Course policy
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Retests/makeup will only be granted for excused absences.
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Attendance is mandatory and missed classes or meetings will result in a lower participation grade.
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This course enforces strictly to the university policy on academic honesty.
NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
POLICY STATEMENTS
SAFE ENVIRONMENT POLICY
NAU’s Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy seeks to prohibit discrimination and promote the safety
of all individuals within the university. The goal of this policy is to prevent the occurrence of discrimination on
Revised 04/22/03
the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status and to
prevent sexual harassment, sexual assault or retaliation by anyone at this university.
You may obtain a copy of this policy from the college dean’s office or from the NAU’s Affirmative Action
website http://home.nau.edu/diversity/. If you have concerns about this policy, it is important that you contact
the departmental chair, dean’s office, the Office of Student Life (928-523-5181), or NAU’s Office of
Affirmative Action (928-523-3312).
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
If you have a documented disability, you can arrange for accommodations by contacting Disability Resources
(DR) at 523-8773 (voice)or 523-6906 (TTY), dr@nau.edu (e-mail)or 928-523-8747 (fax).Students needing
academic accommodations are required to register with DR and provide required disability related
documentation. Although you may request an accommodation at any time, in order for DR to best meet your
individual needs, you are urged to register and submit necessary documentation (www.nau.edu/dr) 8 weeks
prior to the time you wish to receive accommodations. DR is strongly committed to the needs of student with
disabilities and the promotion of Universal Design. Concerns or questions related to the accessibility of
programs and facilities at NAU may be brought to the attention of DR or the Office of Affirmative Action and
Equal Opportunity (523-3312).
INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD
Any study involving observation of or interaction with human subjects that originates at NAU—including a
course project, report, or research paper—must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board
(IRB) for the protection of human subjects in research and research-related activities.
The IRB meets monthly. Proposals must be submitted for review at least fifteen working days before the
monthly meeting. You should consult with your course instructor early in the course to ascertain if your project
needs to be reviewed by the IRB and/or to secure information or appropriate forms and procedures for the IRB
review. Your instructor and department chair or college dean must sign the application for approval by the IRB.
The IRB categorizes projects into three levels depending on the nature of the project: exempt from further
review, expedited review, or full board review. If the IRB certifies that a project is exempt from further review,
you need not resubmit the project for continuing IRB review as long as there are no modifications in the
exempted procedures.
A copy of the IRB Policy and Procedures Manual is available in each department’s administrative office and
each college dean’s office or on their website: http://www.research.nau.edu/vpr/IRB/index.htm. If you have
questions, contact the IRB Coordinator in the Office of the Vice President for Research at 928-523-8288 or 5234340.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The university takes an extremely serious view of violations of academic integrity. As members of the
academic community, NAU’s administration, faculty, staff and students are dedicated to promoting an
atmosphere of honesty and are committed to maintaining the academic integrity essential to the education
process. Inherent in this commitment is the belief that academic dishonesty in all forms violates the basic
principles of integrity and impedes learning. Students are therefore responsible for conducting themselves in an
academically honest manner.
Individual students and faculty members are responsible for identifying instances of academic dishonesty.
Faculty members then recommend penalties to the department chair or college dean in keeping with the severity
of the violation. The complete policy on academic integrity is in Appendix G of NAU’s Student Handbook
http://www4.nau.edu/stulife/handbookdishonesty.htm.
Revised 04/22/03
ACADEMIC CONTACT HOUR POLICY
The Arizona Board of Regents Academic Contact Hour Policy (ABOR Handbook, 2-206, Academic Credit)
states: “an hour of work is the equivalent of 50 minutes of class time…at least 15 contact hours of recitation,
lecture, discussion, testing or evaluation, seminar, or colloquium as well as a minimum of 30 hours of student
homework is required for each unit of credit.”
The reasonable interpretation of this policy is that for every credit hour, a student should expect, on average, to
do a minimum of two additional hours of work per week; e.g., preparation, homework, studying.
SENSITIVE COURSE MATERIALS
If an instructor believes it is appropriate, the syllabus should communicate to students that some course content
may be considered sensitive by some students.
“University education aims to expand student understanding and awareness. Thus, it necessarily involves
engagement with a wide range of information, ideas, and creative representations. In the course of college
studies, students can expect to encounter—and critically appraise—materials that may differ from and perhaps
challenge familiar understandings, ideas, and beliefs. Students are encouraged to discuss these matters with
faculty.”
Revised 04/22/03