Psychology of Multilingualism

2024/2025

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

3

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

School of Psychology

Course type:

Elective course

When:

3 year, 1, 2 module

Instructor

Kharkhurin, Anatoly V.

Course Syllabus

Abstract

Explores a psychological perspective on the phenomenon of multilingualism, an ability of certain individuals to speak more than one language. Addresses the questions of what happens in our brain when we speak, read, or write in two languages. Explores how we learn a second language. Discusses whether the ability to speak more than one language changes our perception of the world and consequently influences the way we think.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the major paradigms of multilingualism and demonstrate an understanding of the kinds of questions that are pertinent to the study of the human mind in the multilingual context.
• Analyze the methodological and empirical foundations underlying research in multilingualism.
• Utilize academic sources to research and understand mental states and processes in the human mind.
• Organize and present research outcomes visually and/or in writing.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Explain the major paradigms of multilingualism and demonstrate an understanding of the kinds of questions that are pertinent to the study of the human mind in the multilingual context
• Analyze the methodological and empirical foundations underlying research in multilingualism.
• Utilize academic sources to research and understand mental states and processes in the human mind.
• Organize and present research outcomes visually and/or in writing.

Course Contents

• Bilingual Research Methods
• Bilingual Mental Models
• The Psycholinguistics of Bilingualism
• The Bilingual Brain
• Bilingual Linguistic and Cognitive Development
• The Social and Cultural Contexts of Bilingualism
• An introduction to Plurilingualism
• Promoting Plurilingualism and Plurilingual Education
• Plurilingual Creativity. A new framework for research

Assessment Elements

• Critical thinking questions
  Every week each student submits a set consisting of critical thinking questions that cover all subtopics of the required readings’ chapter. These questions should initiate a discussion of the material presented in each subsection. The questions should be submitted using google sheets. The instructions will be provided by the TA. Each set weighs 1%.
• Student-directed teaching
  Student-directed lecture 16% Student-directed discussion 12% Chapter summary paper 12%
• In-class participation
  he grade will be given based on the active participation in the discussion and asking meaningful questions. Attendance does not contribute to the grade. However, if you want to attend the lecture, you MUST have your camera ON.
• Project Presentation
  Students make an oral presentation of the research project’s findings. The presentation is given by a group of students assigned to each project. The aim is to simulate a presentation at an academic conference. The feedback to the presentation can be used to modify one’s research paper.
• Project Article
  Students write an empirical article reporting the findings of the research project. The article is submitted by the same group of students, which was assigned to each project. The article should be written in APA style.

Interim Assessment

• 2024/2025 1st module
  0.09 * Critical thinking questions + 0.01 * In-class participation + 0.4 * Project Article + 0.1 * Project Presentation + 0.4 * Student-directed teaching

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Handbook of bilingualism : psycholinguistic approaches, , 2005

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• An introduction to bilingualism : principles and processes, , 2008

Authors

• KHARKHURIN ANATOLIY VLADIMIROVICH
• Kashirskaia EKATERINA VLADIMIROVNA
• KONCHA VALERIYA