Linguistic Studies of Bilingualism
Bilingualism gets examined from its origins in human evolution through modern research, in this MIT OpenCourseWare course. Topics include models of bilingualism and language acquisition, the competence versus performance distinction, early versus late bilingualism, and how speaking multiple languages affects other areas of cognition. Brain imaging studies are covered alongside their implications for educational policy. The course gives students opportunities to observe and conduct original research on bilingual speakers. Materials include the full syllabus, readings, and assignments as published by MIT, taught in English. As an OpenCourseWare offering, there is no certificate, but all course materials are freely available for self-study. The course sits within MIT's Linguistics and Philosophy department, drawing on both linguistic theory and cognitive science to frame how bilingual minds develop and function differently from monolingual ones.