Assignment #2 Applied Linguistics Second Language Acquisition (25 points)
Language is extremely complex to learn and is acquired in stages and over time. There are many second
language learning theories that explore the area of language acquisition. It is important to have an
understanding of how children and adults acquire a second language. For this assignment you will
transcribe and analyze an interview of an English Language Learning (ELL) student in regard to English
language development based on linguistic principles.
Resources: Read and refer to all of the resources listed under Week 3 Class Activities & Assignments.
Use the internet, NSU library, and other sources to review second language learning theories. Use
Appendix A in your syllabus as a format and example for this assignment.
Alternate Assignment: Use the IELTS interview of an intermediate English speaker to analyze the English language errors of the English speaker interviewed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlHtPM8uBl4
This assignment has four parts:
Part I. The introduction: Include an introduction about the student. In the introduction, include
information about the English Language Learner’s (ELL’s) English proficiency, cultural background, age,
grade level, the setting of the interview, and any other background information that you feel is important
about the student being interviewed.
Part II. The interview: Interview an ELL who is learning English as a second language. The interview should be long enough to meet all linguistic subsystems required for the analysis (Appendix A). Choose an
ELL who is at a high beginner or intermediate English language proficiency level. Make sure the student
feels comfortable. Tell the ELL that the interview is not a test, but rather an opportunity for you to record
a language sample. Then tape record and transcribe (write down) the student’s responses to the questions
and requests below. Make sure you write down exactly what the student says, including all errors. By
recording the student’s responses you will be able to compare your written transcriptions with the actual
student pronunciation.
Part III. Analysis : Include a table with the following headings; grammatical subsystem, sample error,
description, analysis. Analyze the student’s recorded speech for errors of phonology, morphology, syntax,
semantics, lexicon, vocabulary, and code switching.
Part IV. Conclusion: Write a conclusion of your ELL’s language transcription that summarizes your
findings and makes suggestions for the ELL’s continued English language acquisition.
Videos Week 3 TSOL 510
Stephen Krashen: 5 Hypotheses of Second Language Acquisition (16:22 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jobpF4c-1NI
Theories of Language Development (4:00 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRGwdfQV8kU