Coordinators trained in first language acquisition |01 August 2015

Language coordinators who have followed training on bilingual first language acquisition (BFLA) have received their certificates.

The course, organised by the Department of Languages in the Faculty of Science and Humanities of the University of Seychelles (UniSey), took place from July 17-24.

The certificates were presented by Dr Sherley Marie, responsible for the Faculty of Science and Humanities and Joelle Perreau, lecturer in French in the Department of Languages at the UniSey.

It was the first time that such a workshop was organised with a mix group of language coordinators from the ministries of Education, Tourism and Ecology and the International School.

The workshop was led by Professor Dany Adone, chair of Applied Linguistics, director of Australian Studies (Linguistics), Department of English Studies, University of Cologne, Germany.

The main objectives of the training were to introduce the students to one of the core areas of Applied Linguistics/Psycholinguistics; introduce the students to Bilingualism and BFLA in Applied Linguistics/Psycholinguistics; provide solid basic knowledge required to study First Language Acquisition (FLA); provide basic knowledge on methods of data collection and analysis of FLA.

Professor Adone said she was very impressed and satisfied with the outcome of this workshop.

The students said that this knowledge of first language acquisition is strong and powerful and they have understood that it is complex, scientific and psychological.

To close the ceremony, Ms Perreau thanked Professor Adone for her intervention, adding that she hoped to see the changes that the participants will make in their school after this training.