Degree programme in: Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Course title: Language Acquisition and Development
Type of course: Compulsory
ECTS: 6
Year/semester: 2
nd
st
year / 1 semester
Name of the lecturer:
Objectives of the course:
The student should be able to:
- understand the biological basis for language acquisition;
- indentify the essential conditions for the success of communicative situations;
- define the principles which rule the development of the human being;
- relate the linguistic development of the child with the widening of the socialisation nucleus:
- identify the child’s representations of the characteristics of the written system and the functions of
reading.
- produce materials to stimulate interactive exchange among children and between children and
adults, as a way of generating conceptual advances.
- implement learning situations related to the psychomotor and symbolic development that lead to the
comprehension and progressive mastery of the different forms of language.
Prerequisites: Not applicable
Course Contents:
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Communication and language.
Biological bases for language acquisition
Verbal interaction and language acquisition.
The process o language acquisition and development in the child: explanatory theories.
Development of linguistic knowledge in the different areas of grammar. Evolution of
communicative competence.
From language use to linguistic awareness: cognition and language meta-processes and the
evolution of linguistic awareness.
Language development and social environment: linguistic input and differences in language
development. Consequences of exposure to two linguistic systems.
Pre-conceptualisation of the child regarding reading and writing.
Acquisition of graphic-motor and graphic-phonetic competences.
Perturbations in the development of oral and written language
Bibliography:
CASTRO, S. L. & I. GOMES, Dificuldades de Aprendizagem da Língua Materna, Lisboa, Universidade
Aberta, 2000
COSTA, João & SANTOS, Ana L., A Falar como os Bebés, Lisboa, Editorial Caminho, 2003
DURAN, Teresa, Leer antes de Leer. Madrid, Anaya, 2002
GOMES, Inês & Castro, São Luís, Dificuldades de Aprendizagem da Língua Materna. Lisboa,
Universidade Aberta, 2000
KATO, M. (org.), A Concepção da Escrita pela Criança, Campinas, Pontes, 1998
LAMPRECHET, R. R. (org.), Aquisição da linguagem: questões e análises, Porto Alegre, Edpucrs,
1999
MARTINS, F. Capela, O Desenvolvimento da Linguagem Escrita em Crianças de Idade Pré–Escolar:
análise do processo evolutivo e das interrelações entre diversos aspectos do conhecimento,
Lisboa, ISPA, 1989
MARTINS, Margarida Alves, Pré-história da aprendizagem da leitura, Lisboa, ISPA, 1996
MARTINS, M. A. e I. NIZA, Psicologia da Aprendizagem da Linguagem Escrita, Lisboa Universidade
Aberta, 1998.
MATA, Lurdes, L’étude des rôles constructeurs des interactions sociales en tâches de lecture et
écriture, Lisboa, ISPA, 1991
NEVES, Manuela e MARTINS, Margarida Alves (1994), Descobrindo a linguagem escrita, Lisboa,
Escolar Editora, 1994
RIGOLET, Sylviane, Para uma Aquisição Precoce e Optimizada da Linguagem, Porto, Porto Editora,
2006 (2ª ed. revista e ampliada)
SIM-SIM, Inês, Desenvolvimento da Linguagem, Lisboa, Universidade Aberta, 1998
Teaching methods:
Lectures, on line research work, materials construction and moments of reflection
Observation of learning situations in pre-school education, followed by critical debates. Research work on
the themes being studied.
Assessment methods: Assignments and tests
Language of instruction: Portuguese