EL 103- PRINCIPLES AND THEORIES OF LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND LEARNING

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT (WA) GUIDE

CASE STUDY PROJECT

As stated in the COURSE GUIDE, you are required to conduct a case study for this course which
represents 40% of your final grade. Ten percent (10%) of that will come from progress report
1; another ten percent (10%) will come from progress report 2; and the remaining twenty
percent (20%) will be from the final report.

TASK:

You are to study one (1) subject. The subject is the learner that you will study clo sely for
this case study project. (See Appendix A of this document).

Choose between:

1. One first language learner or bilingual first language learner

2. One (1) second language learner who may be a young learner or an adult learner.

SUBMISSION DATES:

Dates of submission of the case study progress reports and the final report will be announced in
the GC or LMS

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE CASE STUDY PROJECT:

Choose your subject as early as the first week of October but not later than the third
week of this month. DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION IS OCTOBER 23.

1. Observe your subject diligently.

a. Note how your subject exhibit, apply, uphold, follow and show other positive
manifestations of the principles and characteristics exemplified in the different
theories, studies, and research on language acquisition and learning.
b. Note how your subject deviate, defy, and show other negative manifestations of
the principles and characteristics exemplified in the different theories, studies, and
research on language acquisition and learning.
c. Note other manifestations of the subject’s attempt at learning a language. Relevant
data are not confined to the language produced by the subject. The subject’s
actuations, behaviours, mannerisms aside from the verbal ones are also good data
to interpret.
 d. Have at least 30 hours’ worth of data from your subject to analyze and interp ret.
Thirty (30) hours’ worth of data is equivalent to 30 hours of observation and/or
interaction with your subject.
2. Data gathering techniques/methods. Choose to use from the following data
gathering methods. You may use a combination of these methods.
a. Observation
b. Interview
c. Audio and video recording of the subject in naturalistic contexts/settings
d. Self-reports or think-aloud protocols
e. Elicitation tasks
f. Diary studies/Journal logs
3. Record your observations on a regular basis. The relevant points to be observed may
be guided by the topics of the course. The topics can serve as your guide but the data
that you may gather should not be restricted by the topics since it has been established
that there is variability in learning/acquisition of language.
4. Use an organized way of recording your observation. You may devise a chart or a
table that you will use to record observations in a systematic manner. An example of a
table follows:
(NOTE: This is a system of recording data and not a way of reporting the data in the case
study report that you will submit.)
DATE of Notes regarding Notes Data Researcher’s
data the regarding the (Utterances, comments*
collection circumstances other factors non-verbal (*These may
than that may have means of guide you in
characterize the influenced the communication, your future
setting when the data other analysis of the
data collection (People actuations, etc.) data)
happened present, mood
(Characteristic of the subject,
of the etc.)
environment,
topic, activity,
etc.)

5. Study carefully your data to see patterns and unifying threads which can be bases
for interpretation and conclusion.
You have two sets of general questions to choose from to answer in this case study:
Set 1:

Set 2:
 t difficulties does the subject encounter in acquiring/learning the
a. language?
W b. What can explain those difficulties?
ha c. What solutions may be proposed to help the subject overcome
those difficulties?

a. How is the subject acquiring/learning the language?

b. What theories or principles in language acquisition/learning may
explain the process?

6. Write the report following the given FORMAT also in this document. (See Appendix
A)
7. Important data should be appended in the report. Video and audio taped materials
as well as photographs and also artefacts produced by the subject like written
outputs, drawings, and scribbles are examples of materials that should be
appended to give the readers of the report a clearer picture of the interpretation
and conclusions made.

FOR THE CASE STUDY of an L1 LEARNER or a B ILINGUAL FIRST LANGUAGE LEARNER

A. Choose a subject:
The ideal subject for this case study is a child between 1 and 1/2 and 3 years old
who is starting to learn a first language. If no child of this age is available, children
within the age range of 3 to 5 may be chosen although if the subject falls within this
age group, he or she may already have acquired the basic components of the first
language and is on the way to learning the other more complex components. It is
also possible that at this stage the subject is already starting to learn a second
language.
Children younger than 1 are not good candidates for the kind of case study you are
about to do because getting significant language acquisition data from these
children require sophisticated instruments.
B. Observe the subject diligently. Observe the child following 2a, 2b, and 2c of the
general
guidelines.
C. Record the observations on a regular basis. The focus of the observation may be
guided by the topics of the course that particularly pertain to first language
acquisition.

FOR THE CASE STUDY of an L2 LEARNER or an ADULT LEARNER

A. Choose a subject:
The ideal subject for this case study is a learner who is just starting to learn
another language. However, note that there is no set age for this group of
subjects. The more
 important consideration is the setting that makes the language learning/acquisition
possible or the need that the learner has for learning another language.
B. Observe the subject diligently. Observe the learner following 2a, 2b, and 2c of
the general guidelines.
C. Record the observations on a regular basis. The focus of the observation may be
guided by the topics of the course that particularly pertain to second
language acquisition but may still benefit from the topics on first language
acquisition.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

The ethics of research advises against identifying the name of case study subjects in order to
protect their privacy. In addition, it is expected that permission is sought from people
directly involved in the study before data gathering is conducted.

APPENDIXES:

APPENDIX A (CASE STUDY SUBJECT PROFILE)

Here are the items/information that you need to include as profile of your prospective
case study subjects.

The profile of the subject of your case study is an introduction of your subject that includes
the following information:

1. Name or how you will call your subject

2. Age

3. First language (give an explanation as to why this is the first language)

4. Target language (give an explanation as to why this is the target language)

5. Short description of the subject's language proficiency

6. Information on the place/community where the subject lives

7. Background information about the parents: age, occupation, educational attainment,

place of residence, and other relevant family circumstances

8. Other members of the family who interact with the subject including relevant
information about them

9. Language/s spoken in the home, community and other places where the subject
interacts with others
10. Other information about the subject that may influence his/her acquisition/learning of
the target language.

APPENDIX B (FIRST PROGRESS REPORT GUIDE QUESTIONS)

Give your instructor an idea of how you are doing in your case study project by
responding to the following guide questions:

1. How many hours’ worth of data have you gathered so far?

2. How did you gather the data? What instruments did you use?
3. What data are particularly striking for you at this point? Please share briefly.
4. Based on the data that you have gathered so far, what possible specific questions
would you like to answer in this case study?
Note: the specific questions should be in line with the set of general questions that
you have chosen for the study. Refer to item #5 in the General Guidelines above.
5. What problems did you encounter? How did you solve or try to solve the problem?
Have you solved the problem?
6. How do you assess your experience so far?
7. Other information you would like to add.
8. Attach your case study subject profile when you submit the progress report. As in all
written submissions, provide a cover page to identify your submission.

Follow the sequence of the questions as format of the progress report. Submit the report
in pdf format.

APPENDIX C (SECOND PROGRESS REPORT GUIDE QUESTIONS)

A. Prepare your second progress report following these guide questions:

1. How have the quantity and quality of your data improved?
a. How many hours’ worth of data have you added to the data you previously had?
b. Have your data given you good basis for answering your questions?
2. Did you make changes in the specific questions you have previously identified? If you
made changes, please share the changes you made and explain the reason for such. If
you didn't, please also state the reason.
3. Can you at this point enumerate your final set of research questions?
4. What problems/concerns with the project do you have at this point?
B. Please make sure that you address all the items in the guide questions when you
prepare the progress report.
C. Attach your first progress report to this submission. Submit the report in pdf pormat.
APPENDIX D (CASE STUDY FINAL REPORT FORMAT)

A. Title Page
B. Executive Summary
The purpose of the Executive Summary is to consolidate the principal points of your
paper in one place. The Executive Summary is a comprehensive restatement of the
report’s purpose, scope, methods, results, conclusions, findings, and recommendations.
The Executive Summary should be proportional to the length of your paper.
C. Introduction
The introduction provides the reader with background information for the research
reported in the paper. Its purpose is to establish a frame of reference for the research,
so that the reader can understand how it is related to other researches. The
Introduction has multiple purposes, namely; to create reader interest in the topic,
establish the problem or questions that the study will answer, place the study within
the larger context of the scholarly literature, and reach out to a specific audience.

D. Literature Review
The review of previous researches accomplishes several purposes. It shares with the
reader the results of other studies that are closely related to the study being reported, it
relates the study to the larger, ongoing dialogue in the literature about the topic, and it
provides a framework for establishing the importance of the study. It can serve a s
a benchmark for comparing the results of the study with other findings. In this case
study, the literature review will come mainly from the materials that discuss the topics
in the course. However, you may want to supplement the materials with your own r
eadings.
E. Methodology
This section specifies the type of research design utilized in the paper, such as the
approach to data collection and data analysis. It should detail the context of the
research, e.g. how the subject was selected, the techniques for data collection, and
explain the underlying rationale for these decisions.
F. Presentation of Data and Analysis
Here, the data gathered are presented and analysed. The findings from the data are
explained and analysed by first presenting the data to answer the questions raised for
the study and then comparing or situating the findings of the study with benchmarks
established in the review of literature. It may point out similarities and differences,
agreements and contradictions, and then attempt to explain these relationships.
G. Summary of findings, Conclusions and Recommendations
 Here, the writer has an opportunity to tie up loose ends, summarize findings, and draw
inferences. Specific recommendations are a good way of concluding the paper. The
writer should recommend possible changes in current practices, suggest new methods
of study and teaching, or propose changes in practice and/or policies. The
recommendations should flow from the present study and be related directly to the
analysis.
H. References
Materials cited in the report are indicated in this section using the APA 4 th edition
format for citing references.
I. Appendixes. Documents that may help readers better understand the contents of the
report are placed here. Documents that may be appended are transcripts of interviews
or subjects’ utterances, photos of the subject and the locale, video/film done for the
study, artefacts, etc.

APPENDIX E (CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF THE CASE STUDY PROJECT FINAL REPORT)

SECTION DESCRIPTION POINTS

ASSIGNED

Executive Summary Summarizes the entire report as explained in 10

the format.

Length proportional to the length of the

entire report.

Introduction Provides a background and justification 10

Includes appropriate references

Describes the objectives of the research

States the research questions

Literature Review Relevant literature/studies as reflected in the 10

focus of the present study and the research
questions are included.

Methodology Includes a thorough description of the 10

Subjects, Mode/s of Analysis, and Procedures
discussed as separate sections
 Discussion of each section is clear and
appropriate.

Presentation of Data presented answer the research 20

data/Discussion/Analyses questions.

The analyses are appropriate in the context of

the questions raised.

Findings are directly drawn from the analysis.

Summary of findings, Summarizes the answers derived for the 15

Conclusion and questions
Recommendations
Answers the “so what” of the
analyses/findings (conclusions)

Attempts to give recommendations to

improve current practice

Provides implications of the findings

References Cited correctly in body of text 10

Cited correctly and appropriately in the

Reference section (APA 4th edition format)

Writing Style Logical, orderly, and internally consistent. 15

Well-developed topic.
Assertions and inferences consistently
supported by appropriate documentation.
Ideas are well synthesized and critically
analysed.

Basically free of fallacious statements and

reasoning and language and format errors.

TOTAL 100