ELT202 Language Acquisition
ELT202 Language Acquisition
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Nov 11, 2025
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English language and literature, Teaching
Almasa Mulalić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
1. To introduce students to key terms, concepts and theories in first and second language acquisition 2. To provide students with a basic foundation of knowledge concerning the issues and challenges related to language learning 3. To explore how current research in language learning can be applied in the language classroom. 4. To examine the stages and development of language learning with regards to planning, implementation and evaluation in the English language classroom. 5. To make students aware of their personal language learning strategies and help them consider which language learning strategies they may employ as English language teachers.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Ortega, L. (2013). Understanding Second Language Acquisition. Routledge.
Additional Literature
Hummel, M. K. (2014). Introducing Second Language Acquisition, Perspectives and Practices. Wiley Blackwell. Lightbown, M. P. & Spada, N. (2006). How Languages are Learned. Oxford University Press.Teaching Methods
Weekly lectures
Quizzes
In-class discussions
Students’ presentations
And exams.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | Chapter 1 (Ortega, 2013.) |
| 2 | Age | Chapter 2 (Ortega, 2013.) |
| 3 | Crosslinguistic influence | Chapter 3 (Ortega, 2013.) |
| 4 | The linguistic environment | Chapter 4 (Ortega, 2013.) |
| 5 | Cognition; Quiz #1 | Chapter 5 (Ortega, 2013.) |
| 6 | Students' presentations | |
| 7 | Students' presentations and Midterm exam revision | Chapters 1-5 (Ortega, 2013.) |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |
| 9 | Development of learner language | Chapter 6 (Ortega, 2013.) |
| 10 | Foreign language aptitude | Chapter 7 (Ortega, 2013.) |
| 11 | Motivation | Chapter 8 (Ortega, 2013.) |
| 12 | Affect and other individual differences | Chapter 9 (Ortega, 2013.) |
| 13 | Social dimensions of L2 learning; Quiz #2 | Chapter 10 (Ortega, 2013.) |
| 14 | Students' presentations | |
| 15 | Students' presentations and Final exam revision | Chapters 6-10 (Ortega, 2013.) |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELT202.1 | Course | Tuesday 09:00 - 11:50 | A F1.26 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 5
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 5
Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Quizzes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Quizzes
12 hours ⏳ (4 week × 3 h)
Home study
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
Midterm exam study
25 hours ⏳ (5 week × 5 h)
Final exam study
25 hours ⏳ (5 week × 5 h)
Presentation
16 hours ⏳ (4 week × 4 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [ELT202] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Nov 11, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| ELT202 | Language Acquisition | 2 | 1 | 6 | Tuesday, 09:00-11:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | ELT323 | |||||||
| Lecturer | Almasa Mulalić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 9:00-11:00 Tuesday: 9:00-11:00 Wednesday: 9:00-11:00 Thursday: 9:00-11:00 Friday: 9:00-11:00 |
|||||||
| amulalic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | 1. To introduce students to key terms, concepts and theories in first and second language acquisition 2. To provide students with a basic foundation of knowledge concerning the issues and challenges related to language learning 3. To explore how current research in language learning can be applied in the language classroom. 4. To examine the stages and development of language learning with regards to planning, implementation and evaluation in the English language classroom. 5. To make students aware of their personal language learning strategies and help them consider which language learning strategies they may employ as English language teachers. |
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| Textbook | Ortega, L. (2013). Understanding Second Language Acquisition. Routledge. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
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| Teaching Methods | Weekly lectures, quizzes, in-class discussions, students’ presentations, and exams. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction | Chapter 1 (Ortega, 2013.) | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Age | Chapter 2 (Ortega, 2013.) | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Crosslinguistic influence | Chapter 3 (Ortega, 2013.) | ||||||||
| Week 4 | The linguistic environment | Chapter 4 (Ortega, 2013.) | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Cognition; Quiz #1 | Chapter 5 (Ortega, 2013.) | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Students' presentations | |||||||||
| Week 7 | Students' presentations and Midterm exam revision | Chapters 1-5 (Ortega, 2013.) | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Development of learner language | Chapter 6 (Ortega, 2013.) | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Foreign language aptitude | Chapter 7 (Ortega, 2013.) | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Motivation | Chapter 8 (Ortega, 2013.) | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Affect and other individual differences | Chapter 9 (Ortega, 2013.) | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Social dimensions of L2 learning; Quiz #2 | Chapter 10 (Ortega, 2013.) | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Students' presentations | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Students' presentations and Final exam revision | Chapters 6-10 (Ortega, 2013.) | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final exam | 1 | 40 | 1, 2, 3, 5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm exam | 1 | 30 | 1, 2, 3, 5 | Not Allowed | |
| Presentation | 1 | 10 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | Not Allowed | |
| Quizzes | 2 | 20 | 1, 2, 3, 5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture | 3 | 14 | 42 | Quizzes | 3 | 4 | 12 | |||
| Home study | 2 | 15 | 30 | Midterm exam study | 5 | 5 | 25 | |||
| Final exam study | 5 | 5 | 25 | Presentation | 4 | 4 | 16 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 12/11/2025 | |||||||||