Bilingualism and the Human Brain: syllabus

Week I
I Lecture
a) Course Introduction: What will we learn in this course?
b) Project assignment
Students will work on two small projects and one large project for which they are required
to write a paper concerning the topic and to present it in the class for discussion.
c) Reading assignment and homework assignment
d) Short introductory lecture on Bilingualism and related subjects.
The student who chooses a paper for the day will submit a 2-page summary paper and prepare 3-5 discussion questions. The student is also
required to leads the discussion group. Bring the copy
of summary and discussion questions for everybody.
II Lecture
Reading and Discussion
a) Introduction to Bilingualism (Chapter 1, Mirror of Language by Hakuta)
b) Bilingualism and Intelligence (Chapter 2 Mirror of Language by Hakuta)

Week 2
I Lecture
Reading and Discussion
a) Language and Thought (pp. 73-85, Chapter 4, Mirror of Language by Hakuta)
b) The bilingual linguistic organization (The Bilingual Mind by Javier, 2007)
Suggested readings.
Development of the compound-coordinate distinction in bilingualism: The linguistic independence of bilinguals. H.B. Beardsmore (1974)
II Lecture
Reading and Discussion
a) The relationship between two languages (pp. 73-85, Chapter 4, Mirror of Language by Hakuta)
b) Bilingual processing of mixed-language associative network. W.E. Lambert (1969)
Suggested readings.
Bilingualism: Cognitive aspects Schonpdflug

Week 3
I Lecture
Reading and Discussion
a) Language representation and working memory with bilinguals. A. Ardila (2003)
II Lecture
Reading and Discussion
a) Relationships among bilingualism, critical thinking ability, and critical thinking disposition. R.T. Albert. et. al. (2002)

Week 4
I Lecture & II
Students’ presentation of small project #1
Interview two classmates from two different countries
concerning their bilingual experience or second
language learning.

Week 5
I Lecture
Lecture on scientific explanation and
construction of theoretical model of bilingualism
How to prepare for Project #3
a) Construction of theoretical model for bilingualism.
Assumptions, hypotheses, testing hypotheses
Acquisition of empirical evidence to test your hypotheses: Interview, questionnaire, simple test or experiment on bilingualism.
b) Students can choose any topic related to language, e.g., language acquisition, learning a second language,
bilingualism, bilingualism and education, bilingualism and society, bilingualism and aging, etc.
Students are encouraged to start constructing a theoretical model at this point for the final research project and make an appointment with the instructor to discuss the model if necessary. The paper should be
5-8 pages long and will be presented using PP in
class for discussion.

Homework by Week 11: Making a preliminary model of
bilingualism and presenting it on the first day of week 6.
II Lecture
Lecture and discussion of Bilingualism and the Brain
a) Introduction to neuropsychology and the brain of bilinguals
b) Distinct cortical areas associated with native and second languages. K.H.S. Kim et al. (1997)
Suggested readings:
The Bilingual Mind (pp.85-89), Chapter 4, Mirror of Language by Hakuta)

Week 6
I Lecture
Reading and Discussion
Bilingualism and the Brain
a) Bilingualism, brain injury, and recovery. Implications for understanding bilinguals and for therapy. M.A. Marrero. et.al. (2002)
Suggested readings:
a) Convergent cortical representation of semantic processing in bilinguals. J. Illis, et al. (1999)
b) The Bilingual Brain: Cortical Representation of
Languages. F. Fabbro. (2001)
c) Picture naming of cognate and non-cognate nouns in bilingual aphasia. Roberts and L. Deslauriers (1999)
d) Bilingual corpus callosum variability. Coggins III
II Lecture
Reading and Discussion
Bilingual and Brain
Continuation of discussion from the first day of this week.

Week 7
I Lecture
Reading and Discussion
Bilingualism and Psychology
a)Temporary decline of thinking ability during foreign
language processing. Takano and Noda (1993)
Suggested readings:
a) The Cognitive advantages of balanced bilingualism. Chipongian, (2000)
b) Interlanguage dissimilarity enhances the decline of thinking ability during foreign language processing. Takano and Noda (1995)
Bilingualism delays onset of dementia
II Lecture
Reading and Discussion: Bilingualism and Psychology
Continuation of discussion from the first day of this
week.
Suggested readings:
a) The Bilingual Mind (pp.89-93, Chapter 4, Mirror of Language by Hakuta)

Week 8
I Lecture & II
Students’ presentation of small project #2
Design a simple experiment on bilingual language
processing. Conduct the experiment using 5 subjects and report the results.

Week 9
I Lecture
Reading and Discussion: Bilingual and Education
a) Bilingualism and bilingual education; A research perspective. Hakuta (1990)
b) Bilingual Education (Chapter 8, Mirror of Language by Hakuta)
Suggested readings
a) The Bilingual Mind (pp.93-95, Chapter 4, Mirror of Language by Hakuta)
b) Bilingual education: International perspectives. R. Tracy (2001)
c) Bilingual education. Condon (1970)

II Lecture
Reading and Discusssion :Bilingual and Education
Continuation of discussion from the first day of this week
Suggested reading
a) Social linguistics and bilingual education. K.L. Pike (1979)
b) Pupil’s attitudes towards foreign-language learning and the development of literacy skills in bilingual education. T. Merisuo-Storm (2007)

Week 10
I Lecture & II
Students’ presentation of the final large project.
Construction of a model of bilingualism including
theoretical assumptions or Field work on bilingualism
and tourism in Venice.

Week 11
I Lecture & II
Students’ presentation of the final large project.
Construction of a model of bilingualism including
theoretical assumptions or Field work on bilingualism
and tourism in Venice.

Week 12
I Lecture & II
Students’ presentation of the final large project.
Construction of a model of bilingualism including
theoretical assumptions or Field work on bilingualism
and tourism in Venice.