Bachelor
2026/2027
Psychology of Multilingualism
Type:
Elective course (Psychology)
Delivered by:
School of Psychology
Where:
Faculty of Social Sciences
When:
3 year, 1 module
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Anatoly V. Kharkhurin
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Contact hours:
36
Course Syllabus
Abstract
Explores a psychological perspective on the phenomenon of multilingualism, an ability of certain individuals to speak more than one language. Addresses the questions of what happens in our brain when we speak, read, or write in two languages. Explores how we learn a second language. Discusses whether the ability to speak more than one language changes our perception of the world and consequently influences the way we think.
A prerequisite for the course is a basic knowledge of psychological concepts and research areas (the courses studied are "History of Psychology", "Cognitive Psychology", "Developmental Psychology", "Social Psychology", "Methods of Data Analysis in Psychology", "Psychodiagnostics")
Learning Objectives
- Explain the major paradigms of multilingualism and demonstrate an understanding of the kinds of questions that are pertinent to the study of the human mind in the multilingual context.
- Analyze the methodological and empirical foundations underlying research in multilingualism.
- Utilize academic sources to research and understand mental states and processes in the human mind.
- Organize and present research outcomes visually and/or in writing.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Explain the major paradigms of multilingualism and demonstrate an understanding of the kinds of questions that are pertinent to the study of the human mind in the multilingual context
- Analyze the methodological and empirical foundations underlying research in multilingualism.
- Utilize academic sources to research and understand mental states and processes in the human mind.
- Organize and present research outcomes visually and/or in writing.
Course Contents
- Bilingual Research Methods
- Bilingual Mental Models
- The Psycholinguistics of Bilingualism
- The Bilingual Brain
- Bilingual Linguistic and Cognitive Development
- The Social and Cultural Contexts of Bilingualism
- An introduction to Plurilingualism
- Promoting Plurilingualism and Plurilingual Education
- Plurilingual Creativity. A new framework for research
Assessment Elements
- Critical thinking questions (CTQ)
- Student-directed teaching (SDT)
- Student-directed discussion
- Chapter summary paperEach student (this assignment is individual) will be responsible for summarizing the WHOLE chapter as a written assignment. It should be written in standard English using the APA format. It is due on Sunday at 23:59 during the week of the presentation.
- In-class participation
- Project PresentationStudents make an oral presentation of the research project’s findings. The presentation is given by a group of students assigned to each project. The aim is to simulate a presentation at an academic conference. The feedback on the presentation can be used to modify one’s research paper. Presenters will have 15 minutes to do their presentation and 5 minutes for Q&A.
- Project ArticleStudents write an empirical article reporting the findings of the research project. The article was submitted by the same group of students who were assigned to each project. The article should be written in APA style.
Interim Assessment
- 2026/2027 1st module0.1 * Student-directed discussion + 0.1 * Chapter summary paper + 0.09 * Project Presentation + 0.17 * Student-directed teaching (SDT) + 0.15 * In-class participation + 0.3 * Project Article + 0.09 * Critical thinking questions (CTQ)
