2025
Language, Reading and Writing Psychology
Name: Language, Reading and Writing Psychology
Code: PSI13148M
3 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours
Scientific Area:
Psychology
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
Psychology of Language, Reading addresses the nature and specificity of human language and considers the complex set of psycolinguistic processes involved in the use of speech and written language.
Learning outcomes:
1. Describe the nature and specificity of human language;
2. Describe the processes involved in language perception, comprehension and production.
3. Identify the main driving forces of linguistic development and give an account of how lan-guage acquisition proceeds
4. Describe the different modern writing systems, in particular the alphabetic writing system
5. Recognize the specificity of the psycholinguistic processes involved in reading and writing and describe how they develop throughout literacy acquisition;
6. Know a variety of methods that have been used in the study of oral and written language
Learning outcomes:
1. Describe the nature and specificity of human language;
2. Describe the processes involved in language perception, comprehension and production.
3. Identify the main driving forces of linguistic development and give an account of how lan-guage acquisition proceeds
4. Describe the different modern writing systems, in particular the alphabetic writing system
5. Recognize the specificity of the psycholinguistic processes involved in reading and writing and describe how they develop throughout literacy acquisition;
6. Know a variety of methods that have been used in the study of oral and written language
Contents
1.The study of language
The nature and specificity of human language
The biological and developmental bases of language
2. Language acquisition and development
Phonological development
Lexical and semantic development
Early syntactic development
3. Oral language:
Describing speech
Processes involved in speech perception and word recognition
Models of speech production and comprehension
4. Written language
Reading and writing
Writing systems and orthography
Psycholinguistic processes involved in fluent reading and writing
Reading acquisition
-Theoretical models of reading and writing acquisition
- Teaching methods
- Factors that influence learning
5. Specific learning disabilities in reading and writing
The nature and specificity of human language
The biological and developmental bases of language
2. Language acquisition and development
Phonological development
Lexical and semantic development
Early syntactic development
3. Oral language:
Describing speech
Processes involved in speech perception and word recognition
Models of speech production and comprehension
4. Written language
Reading and writing
Writing systems and orthography
Psycholinguistic processes involved in fluent reading and writing
Reading acquisition
-Theoretical models of reading and writing acquisition
- Teaching methods
- Factors that influence learning
5. Specific learning disabilities in reading and writing
Teaching Methods
Lectures ? A combination of expository methods and dialogue used to present content, enhancing theoretical understanding through the analysis of real-life examples. Presentation slides are made available on Moodle.
Practical Classes ? Sessions involving oral presentations of studies in psycholinguistics, neuroscience, and education, designed to stimulate exploration across diverse research areas and promote critical thinking. Videos, simulated assessments, and the development of intervention programs help bridge theory and practice while building technical skills.
Open Classes (in-person/online) ? Sessions featuring national and international guest speakers to facilitate the internationalization of the curriculum.
Independent Work/Study ? Activities involving research, reading academic texts, and preparing materials for presentations.
Practical Classes ? Sessions involving oral presentations of studies in psycholinguistics, neuroscience, and education, designed to stimulate exploration across diverse research areas and promote critical thinking. Videos, simulated assessments, and the development of intervention programs help bridge theory and practice while building technical skills.
Open Classes (in-person/online) ? Sessions featuring national and international guest speakers to facilitate the internationalization of the curriculum.
Independent Work/Study ? Activities involving research, reading academic texts, and preparing materials for presentations.
Assessment
Continuous Assessment
Involves the completion of one written test (weight 50% of the final grade) and two practical assignments to be done by groups (each weighing 25% of the final grade). Practical assignments: oral presentation of a scientific article on one of the syllabus topics; and oral presentation of a poster with a case study, including the planning of an assessment or the conceptualization of an intervention. A minimum grade of 9 out of 20 in each assessment element and an average of 10 or higher is required to pass.
Attendance must be at least 75% of both theoretical and practical classes.
Final Assessment
Students who opt for final assessment will take a written exam comprising a theoretical part and a practical part. The practical component of the exam will include the contents of the assignments conducted during the practical classes. Students will pass if they achieve a final grade of 10 (ten) or higher.
Involves the completion of one written test (weight 50% of the final grade) and two practical assignments to be done by groups (each weighing 25% of the final grade). Practical assignments: oral presentation of a scientific article on one of the syllabus topics; and oral presentation of a poster with a case study, including the planning of an assessment or the conceptualization of an intervention. A minimum grade of 9 out of 20 in each assessment element and an average of 10 or higher is required to pass.
Attendance must be at least 75% of both theoretical and practical classes.
Final Assessment
Students who opt for final assessment will take a written exam comprising a theoretical part and a practical part. The practical component of the exam will include the contents of the assignments conducted during the practical classes. Students will pass if they achieve a final grade of 10 (ten) or higher.
Teaching Staff
- Isabel Maria Cabrita de Araújo Leite dos Santos Silva [responsible]
Certificações
