Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Understanding Language Acquisition and Cognition (Hybrid)

EESL 5310-137

Course: EESL 5310-137
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: TED
CRN: 13940

Course Description

In this course, participants will learn about how a second language is acquired, understand the different WIDA levels and what the students can do at each level, and learn a variety of reading, writing, speaking, and listening strategies that they will add to their portfolio.


Required Texts

The following books will be provided for you by Jordan School District. These books are on loan and will need to be returned at the completion of the course.

  • Ernst-Slavit, Gisela , and Margo Gottlieb. (2014). Academic Language in Diverse Classrooms: Definitions and Contexts 
  • Johnson, Eli R. Academic Language! Academic Literacy!: A Guide for K-12 Educators 

Learning Outcomes

  • Review the processes and theories of second language acquisition and how they impact classroom learning.
  • Understand the impact of language structures and modes (reading, writing, speaking, listening) on acquiring English in the classroom.
  • Gain greater understanding of explicitly and intentionally teaching academic language.
  • Understand and be able to utilize the WiDA English Language Proficiency Standards in lesson preparation and learning activity differentiation.

Course Requirements

Credit Hours: 3.0

To qualify for credit, Southern Utah University requires that learners must complete 15 hours of contact time per credit hour in any given course.  Contact time will include face-to-face instruction, online text-based forums and discussions, readings, videos, and assignments.  

Course Outline

Hybrid format: 
  • The two face-to-face sessions will include short lectures, presentations, videos, activities, and opportunities to collaborate with your peers. Each session will last three hours. 
  • The 5  virtual sessions will consist of video lectures, discussions, reading assignments, and other activities. The workload for virtual sessions is designed to take approximately 8 hours per week. 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Please communicate, in advance, with the instructor if you need to turn in an assignment more than a week late. Because the course is competency based, the instructor will provide extended time as needed to demonstrate competency.

Attendance Policy

The following are general guidelines for the classroom environment:
Class Attendance is Required: If you are registered for a Face-to-Face, Synchronous Remote, or Hybrid course, attendance is required. If you are ill or instructed to isolate or quarantine,  you may request other reasonable accommodations. Your instructor will work with you to develop a plan for completing coursework while you are isolated/quarantined. In order for you to receive academic accommodations and ensure that your request is communicated to faculty, you must submit a self report form.


Please communicate with the instructor if you have extreme circumstances. Students should discuss with faculty, in advance, any portion of a class they cannot attend. Absence from any class (face-to-face or virtual) or portion of any class (face-to-face or virtual) may affect the student's grade. Emergency situations will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. As a general rule, however, if attendance becomes an issue, the student may be asked to withdraw from the class or take a significant grade reduction as deemed appropriate by the instructor.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Course Fees

The cost of this course is $69, payable to SUU, and must be paid before January 6th, 2026.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.