/Linguistics exam questions

Choice of seven questions, answer two. Might be an idea to prepare 3 areas.

In each question, give examples referring to the learning of French.

External examiner: Vera O’Reagan- wrote a book on identity.

Q1. Socio-Linguistic Competence. (Extent to which language learners need)

 How developed does a person need to be- adolescence

 Along developmental axis. Cognitive development.
 For them to development SLC. What age
 →→Article we looked at by Young/ Jung.
 At what point can they acquire SLC?
 →Look at adolescent learners of French.

Q2. General question about age.

 What is role played by age in acquiring 2nd language?

 How important is it? Does it make a different? Etc.

Q3 Based on article. –look at reference from article (try for name and year) [no need for quotes, just
names will do]

 No need for detailed results, just get a general idea.

 “Discussion” part will give a good overview.
 Etienne and Sacks, 2004, article,
 Explicit focus on Stylistic Variation
 Value of more explicit focus
 Way in which- if have grammatical explanation, It can almost misrepresent an authentic
piece of French.

Q4 Personality Factors

 Effect of personality factors (nice question, apparently)

 What impact, what has it shown for success or failure
 Give examples for French acquisition
Q5. How much do you need specific structure to grammar classes?

Debate pros and cons (neat essay)

Q6. Teaching reading skills

(Different methods of) and way in which they’re taught

Q7. Learning styles and language learning

 How you learn and how it refers to you

 Use examples you can use your own experiences and examples here
 Reflective essay.

Advice:

An hour and a half for each essay. Ample time to plan.

→Make plan before you go in.

 Use two answer books; keep other one with plan open to refer to.
 Structure and style →Transitions. Make sure they flow logically into each other
 Clear, logical.
 Use sub-headings if you want.

3 discernible sections

e.g. Age question: →Very, very condensed version of main argument. Flavour of what essay is going
to be about. Don’t just repeat title- throw in words/ synonyms from the question. Then outline what
you’re going to do.

Then pros and cons – Critical evaluation.

Conclusion:

 Recap essay.
 How it relates to other areas.
 Open it up.
 Don’t use “I”, still passive
  Obviously don’t introduce new ideas in conclusion.

About 4-6 pages.

Broaden it out by bringing in anything else we looked at →Bonus points!