Subject Name |
Foundations of Bilingual Education |
Study |
Master in Bilingual Education |
ECTS Credits |
6 |
Year and four month period |
First year, first four month period |
Type of subject | Compulsory |
The main aim of this subject is to teach students the theoretical background of the different bilingual programs and its historical evolution up to the XXI century so they become fully aware of the tradition upholding the bilingual educational systems implemented in the national territory, Spain. In order to achieve these premises, one of the main focuses of the subject will be the maturation and transformation of the distinct methodologies and approaches to second and foreign language teaching.
The theoretical background encompasses the psychological and cognitive foundations together with the social basics that have contributed to the progress of bilingualism, moreover special emphasis will be made on the different linguistic policies that take place along the various autonomous regions that make up the country. The legislation concerning foreign language teaching and its role on the development of the curriculum will be analyzed as well.
As a consequence of all that, at the end of the course students will be able to distinguish the divergent teaching methods that originated the contemporary bilingual situation, as well as the bases of the European and national linguistic policies, their institutions, law and objectives. They will also be able to understand the differences that may emerge in teaching practice in regard to theory.
Basic Competences
General Competences
Specific Competences
Transversal competences
Unit 1. Introduction to Bilingualism
Definitions and classifications of bilingualism
Second language learning and measurement
Common European Framework of Reference
Bibliographical references
Unit 2. Basics of Bilingualism Education
Introduction to bilingual education
Main dichotomies in bilingual education
Schmidt’s “Noticing Hypothesis”
Bibliographical references
Unit 3. The bilingual speaker
Bilingual competence
Bilingual speech
Similarities and differences between L1 and L2 learning
Unit 4. Psychological foundations of bilingualism
The role of brain
Nativist and connectionist theories
Chomsky’s Universal Grammar and L.A.D
C.P.H and the role of age in language learning
The threshold theory
Unit 5. Sociocultural aspects of bilingualism
Language as a social semiotic system
The role of context in SFL
Systemic Functional Linguistics and education
Unit 6. Methods and approaches to bilingual teaching: twentieth century
History of language teaching
Oral approach
Audiolingual method
Unit 7. Methods and approaches to bilingual teaching: alternative approaches
Total Physical Response
Silent way
Suggestopedia
Unit 8. Methods and approaches to bilingual teaching: current communicative methods
Content-based instruction
Task-based language teaching
CLIL
Unit 9. Bilingualism in practice: the case of North America
Multilingual societies
Canada and the United States
Unit 10. Bilingualism in practice: the case of Latin America
Multilingualism and bilingual education in Latin America
Argentina
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Unit 11. Bilingualism in practice: the case of Europe
How to study this unit?
Eurydice reports
Case studies
Unit 12. Bilingualism in Spain
Monolingual communities
Bilingual communities
Current perspectives on bilingualism in Spain
Unit 13. Bilingual legislation in Spain and the bilingual department
Bilingual Spanish legislation
The bilingual department
The different tasks and activities programmed during the semester have been developed with the goal of adapting the learning process to the different capabilities, necessities and interests of the students.
The activities included in the subject are:
In the weekly program you can find the specific tasks you need to complete in this subject.
TThese activities are combined with the following aspects:
The hours dedicated to each activity are detailed as follows:
Assignments |
Hours |
Attendance to virtual classes | 15,0 |
Master lessons | 6,0 |
Basic material study | 50,0 |
Additional resources readings | 25,0 |
Task and practice cases and self-evaluation test | 29,0 |
Tutoring | 16,0 |
Collaborative work, forums, debates, etc. | 7,0 |
Attendance to the exam | 2,0 |
Total |
150 |
Basic bibliography
The necessary texts for the study of this subject had been elaborated by UNIR and are available in a digital format for consultation, download and print in the virtual classroom.
Unit 1
Available at the virtual campus with a CEDRO* license.
Unit 2
Available at the virtual campus with a CEDRO license.
Available at the virtual campus with a CEDRO* license.
Unit 3
Available at the virtual campus with a CEDRO* license.
Unit 4
Available at the virtual campus with a CEDRO* license.
Unit 5
Available at the virtual campus with a CEDRO* license.
Unit 6
Available at the virtual campus with a CEDRO* license
Unit 7
Available at the virtual campus with a CEDRO* license
Unit 8
Available at the virtual campus with a CEDRO* license
Unit 9
Available at the virtual campus with a CEDRO* license
Unit 10
Available at the virtual campus with a CEDRO* license
Unit 11
Unit 12
* This work is protected by copyright and its reproduction and public communication, in the available modality, have been authorized by CEDRO. It is forbidden its subsequent reproduction, distribution and public communication in any form or by any means, except one printed reproduction by each authorized user.
Additional bibliography
You can also find useful information in these reference books.
Bloomfield, L. (1933). Language. New York: Holt.
Diebold, A.R. (1964). Incipient Bilingualism. In D. Hymes, et al. Language in Culture and Society. New York: Harper and Row.
Hansegard, N. E. (1975). Tvasprakighet eller halvsprakighet? Stockholm: Aldus.
Meara, P. (1983). Word Associations in a Foreign Language. Retrieved from: http://www.lognostics.co.uk/vlibrary/meara1983.pdf
Skutnabb-Kangas, T. (1981). Bilingualism or Not: The Education of Minorities. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.
Mackey, W. F. (1978). The importation of bilingual education models. In J. Alatis (ed.) Georgetown University Roundtable: International Dimensions of Education. Washington DC: Georgetown University Press.
The evaluation system is based on the following numerical chart:
0 - 4, 9 |
Suspenso |
(SS) |
5,0 - 6,9 |
Aprobado |
(AP) |
7,0 - 8,9 |
Notable |
(NT) |
9,0 - 10 |
Sobresaliente |
(SB) |
The grade is made up of two components:
On-site final exam (60%). At the end of the semester, you need to assist a mandatory on-site final exam. You need to pass the final exam so the grade obtained from the assignments (continuous assessment) is summed up to the final grade of the subject.
Continuous assessment (40%): this type of assessment will be measured through the different assignments you need to complete during the course:
Remember that you can check the points (value) of each assignment in the weekly program.
Take into account that the sum of the grades of the assignments included in the continuous assessment is 6 points. You can fulfil as many as you want to a maximun of 4 points (which is the max. grade that you could acomplish in the continuous assessment). In the weekly program, you can find the grade of each assignment.
Assessment method |
Min. Score |
Max. Score |
Participation in forums, classes, etc. |
0% |
10% |
Task, practice cases and activities |
10% |
40% |
Self-evaluation test |
0% |
10% |
On-site final exam |
60% |
60% |
Eva Ampuero López
Education: BA in Education. MA in Teaching English as a Second Language.
Professional experience: Prof. Eva Ampuero combines teaching English, Arts & Crafts, Natural Science and Social Sciences at a the Nuestra Señora de Valvanera Primary School, and at the same time coordinates the teaching staff.
Lines of research: Teaching methodology. CLIL.
Studying online means you can organize your study as you wish, as long as you meet the due dates of the different assignments (activities, tasks and tests). In order to help you, we propose the following steps:
Remember that in Lo que necesitas saber antes de empezar (All you need to know before starting) you can check how the different tools of the virtual classroom work: email, forum, online classes, sending the tasks, etc.
Please, take into account the following tips…
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