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Explore the science of language development and disorders

Language Development and Disorders

Toekomst
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This minor combines theoretical knowledge from linguistics with practical skills to analyze and support children’s language development. The minor prepares students to recognize typical and atypical language development, understand language delays and disorders, and reflect on their impact on learning and social participation.

This minor gives students hands-on experience in understanding and supporting children’s language development. It begins with an introductory linguistics course, where you explore key areas such as phonology, semantics, , syntax and language development. In the Psycholinguistics course, you learn how language is processed in the brain and how this knowledge can be applied in practice.

You use these insights to analyse the language development of children with language or hearing disorders. Practical experience is an important part of the program, including a visit to an audiology centre to see how language disorders are diagnosed and assessed.

All courses emphasize the link between language, social interaction, and cognitive development. The Literacy Development course focuses specifically on the close relationship between language and reading, giving you strategies to support children’s literacy skills.

For those interested in further specialization, completing this minor also covers part of the premaster requirements of the Dutch MA programme Taalstoornissen, which provides a strong foundation for advanced study or professional training in language development and disorders.

Course overview

  • Introduction to Linguistics

    This course provides students with elementary knowledge of formal linguistics and of language use. Students will perform basic linguistic analyses on language datasets from languages they do not speak.

  • Literacy Development

    This course provides students  insight in the reading process, the development of reading skills, and factors that affect this development. Students will apply this knowledge to how reading is supported in educational interventions.

  • Psycholinguistics

    This course provides students with an introduction to core areas of psycholinguistics including language production, speech perception, word recognition, and language comprehension, as well as some aspects of first and second language acquisition, bilingualism and language disorders. 

  • First Language Acquisition & Language Impairment

    This course informs students about  the phases that children go through when acquiring their native speech, i.e. their first language (L1). Students will also explore different explanations for the fact that every healthy, or typically developing child, is able to master his or her L1 within a few years, solely based on the language input they are exposed to, and interaction with e.g., caregivers, but without any systematic instructions or feedback on language. 

  • Hearing and Language Development

    This course provides students insight into the complex interplay between language, hearing and cognition. Students will also explore how language and hearing disorders are assessed, diagnosed and remediated.

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