Universität Wien
Warning! The directory is not yet complete and will be amended until the beginning of the term.

300157 SE Bilingualism: Neural bases and Socio-cognitive aspects (2024W)

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 30 - Biologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 20 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 11.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 10, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Wednesday 13.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 18 Kolingasse 14-16, OG02
  • Monday 18.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 18 Kolingasse 14-16, OG02
  • Wednesday 20.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 15, Kolingasse 14-16, OG01
  • Monday 25.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 18 Kolingasse 14-16, OG02
  • Wednesday 27.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum 18 Kolingasse 14-16, OG02

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Learning objectives:
1. To acquire knowledge about the socio-cognitive bases of bilingualism.
2. To develop critical reading skills.

Course description:
The seminar, which will take place entirely in English and will be co-taught by Dr Olga Kepinska, will provide an overview of the state of the art regarding the socio-cognitive aspects of bilingualism, regarding its neural bases, and regarding advantages and challenges linked to bi- and multilingualism, this being the norm in many places around the world. Students will learn about different types of bilingualism, about the advantages and challenges that accompany the mastery of two or more languages, as well as contradictory behavioral and brain imaging findings related to executive / cognitive advantages linked to bilingualism. We will also address bilingualism from a social point of view, and discuss bilingualism-related policy issues. Students will also learn about neural differences or changes (i.e. plasticity) arising from learning a second (or more) language(s).

There are no prerequisites for taking this seminar. It will include introductions to brain imaging methods, and to neuroanatomy and to the functional anatomy of language. Solid knowledge of spoken and written English is, however, required.

Assessment and permitted materials

The grade will be based on 1) the oral presentation of a scientific article (30% of grade), 2) an oral exam designed to assess integration and understanding of the material presented in the course and of mandatory readings (30% of grade), 3) performance during a debate (20% of grade) and 4) class participation (20% of grade).

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

To pass, students will be required to present a scientific paper (30%), to pass an oral exam (30%), to participate in a debate (20%) and to participate actively in the seminar, asking questions and contributing to discussions (20%). Also, to receive credit for the seminar you cannot miss more than one session, AND you can only deregister within the first 2 days after the first session – by 22h Tuesday November 12th (i.e. after that, de-registrations will result in an insufficient grade). Also, should you miss a session you will be asked to complete an extra assignment on the topic of the missed lecture.

Examination topics

The content of the lectures, the readings and the discussions that take place during the seminar will be relevant for the oral exam.

Reading list

The mandatory and optional readings will be made available to students who register for the course. Readings will include research papers and book chapters.

Examples of mandatory readings:
• de Bot, K., 2019. Defining and Assessing Multilingualism, in: The Handbook of the Neuroscience of Multilingualism. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK, pp. 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119387725.ch1
• Kemmerer, Chapter 17: The Bilingual Brain, in: Cognitive Neuroscience of Language: Second Edition (a digital copy of the chapter will be made available to the students).
• Sulpizio, S., Del Maschio, N., Fedeli, D., Abutalebi, J., 2020. Bilingual language processing: A meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging studies. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.014

Examples of recommended readings:
• Morgan-Short, K., Steinhauer, K., Sanz, C., Ullman, M.T., 2012. Explicit and implicit second language training differentially affect the achievement of native-like brain activation patterns. J. Cogn. Neurosci. 24, 933–47. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_00119
• Ullman, M.T., 2001. The declarative/procedural model of lexicon and grammar. J. Psycholinguist. Res. 30, 37–69.
• Abutalebi, J., Green, D., 2007. Bilingual language production: The neurocognition of language representation and control. J. Neurolinguistics 20, 242–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroling.2006.10.003

Association in the course directory

MVN W-12, CoBeNe W2

Last modified: Tu 10.12.2024 10:06