JFL388H1

Bilingualism, Multilingualism, and Second Language Acquisition

Using and encountering multiple languages is the everyday norm of people living in much of the world, including in multicultural cities like Toronto. This course offers a broad exploration of the cognitive and social underpinnings of the dynamic field of bilingualism, multilingualism, and second language acquisition. We will (i) explore the differences between bilinguals/multilinguals and monolinguals in the ways they process and use language; (ii) examine the language acquisition patterns of children and adults; (iii) investigate the interactions between an individual’s language repertoires and those of their peers and local community.