MA Applied Linguistics

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MA Applied Linguistics

  • Objectives To enable students to develop systematic understanding of existing linguistically-informed research into how second languages are learned. To make students aware of the variety of methodologies used in teaching second/foreign languages, and of current trends in language teaching. To cultivate in students a critical awareness of the relationship between evidence and theory in the investigation of the learning and teaching of second/foreign languages. To provide specialist training in the research methods and techniques of Applied Linguistics, and to give students the opportunity to apply those methods and techniques in the design of an original research project. To empower students to undertake advanced original research using the knowledge, understanding and skills acquired during the programme.
  • Entry requirements Entry Qualifications A good BA honours (or equivalent) degree (2:1 or above). For non-native speakers of English, an IELTS score of 6.5 or a TEOFL score of 580 (computer based 230). Some prior knowledge of Linguistics is useful but not essential.
  • Academic title MA Applied Linguistics
  • Course description
    Course Description
    The MA in Applied Linguistics explores the results of recent empirical studies of second language acquisition, focusing on how learners develop L2 knowledge and what role classroom practice plays in that development. Students learn how to apply the insights of current linguistic theory in understanding and explaining non-native language acquisition.


    Modules and Options

    The lists of modules below represent the range of options available for each year of study. This may not be a complete list of the options you will study, and may be subject to change, so please contact the department for further details.

    Stage 1

        ACQUISITION OF SECOND LANGUAGE PHONOLOGY
        BLACK ENGLISHES
        CHILDREN'S ENGLISH
        COMMUNICATIVE LANGUAGE TESTING
        Compulsory: APPROACHES TO SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
        Compulsory: ASSIGNMENT WRITING AND DISSERTATION PREPARATION
        Compulsory: FOUNDATIONS OF LINGUISTICS
        Compulsory: LANGUAGE TEACHING
        COMPUTATIONAL LINGUISTICS I
        COMPUTATIONAL LINGUISTICS II
        COMPUTER ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING: THEORY, RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
        CONSTRAINT BASED PHONOLOGY
        CONVERSATION AND SOCIAL INTERACTION
        Core: DISSERTATION: MA
        CORPORA IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING
        CULTURE IN SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING AND TEACHING
        DESCRIPTIVE SYNTAX
        DESIGN OF LANGUAGE TEACHING PROGRAMMES AND MATERIALS FOR YOUNG LEARNERS
        DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGE PROCESSING
        DEVELOPMENTAL LANGUAGE DISORDERS
        DEVELOPMENTAL SECOND LANGUAGE SYNTAX
        DISCOURSE AND LANGUAGE TEACHING
        ELT PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS
        ENGLISH PHONOLOGY
        ENGLISH SYNTAX
        EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND ANALYSIS
        FOUNDATIONS OF COMPUTER ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING
        FOUNDATIONS OF ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES
        FOUNDATIONS OF INTERCULTURAL AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION
        FOUNDATIONS OF LANGUAGE FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS
        FURTHER QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS IN LANGUAGE STUDY
        GENRE ANALYSIS, ACADEMIC ENGLISH FOR ESP
        GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT
        GRAMMATICAL DEVELOPMENT IN FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD LANGUAGE LEARNERS
        INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN L2 LEARNING
        INPUT IN LANGUAGE LEARNING AND TEACHING
        INTERCULTURAL PRAGMATICS
        INTRODUCTION TO HEAD-DRIVEN PHRASE STRUCTURE GRAMMAR
        INTRODUCTION TO LEXICAL FUNCTIONAL GRAMMAR
        LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND THE CRITICAL PERIOD
        LANGUAGE AND GENDER
        LANGUAGE DISORDERS IN ADULTS
        LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN CLASSROOMS
        LANGUAGE PROGRAMME EVALUATION
        LANGUAGE TEACHER EDUCATION
        LANGUAGE TEACHERS IN CLASSROOMS
        LANGUAGE TESTING
        LEARNER AUTONOMY
        LEARNER PERSPECTIVES ON VOCABULARY
        LEARNER STRATEGIES AND METALINGUISTIC KNOWLEDGE: EXPLICIT ASPECTS OF L2 LEARNING
        LEXICAL CHANGE IN THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH
        LITERACY DEVELOPMENT AND TEACHING OF READING TO YOUNG LEARNERS
        MATERIALS DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
        MATERIALS EVALUATION
        MINIMALISM SYNTAX II
        MINIMALIST SYNTAX I
        MORPHOLOGY
        MULTILINGUALISM
        NON-EXPERIMENTAL QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING
        PEDAGOGICAL GRAMMAR
        PHILOSOPHY OF LINGUISTICS
        PHONOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND PHONOLOGICAL DISORDERS
        PHONOLOGICAL THEORY AND SECOND LANGUAGE PHONOLOGY
        PIDGIN AND CREOLE LANGUAGES
        PRAGMATICS: DISCOURSE AND RHETORIC
        PROLOG I
        PROLOG II
        QUALITATIVE METHODOLOGY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING/APPLIED LINGUISITICS RESEARCH
        RELEVANCE THEORY
        RESEARCH TOPICS IN ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES
        RESEARCHING WRITING IN EFL/ESL
        SEMANTICS
        SENTENCE PROCESSING
        SOCIOLINGUISTIC METHODS I
        SOCIOLINGUISTIC METHODS II
        SOCIOLINGUISTICS I
        SOCIOLINGUISTICS II
        SOCIOPHONOLOGY
        SOCIOPHONOLOGY RESEARCH
        SYLLABUS DESIGN
        TEACHING ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES
        TEACHING PRACTICE I
        TEACHING PRACTICE II
        TEACHING WRITING IN EFL/ESL
        TEACHING, LISTENING AND SPEAKING
        THE MENTAL LEXICON
        THEORETICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE PHONOLOGY
        TOPICS IN HEAD-DRIVEN PHRASE STRUCTURE GRAMMAR
        TOPICS IN LEXICAL FUNCITIONAL GRAMMAR
        TOPICS IN PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION
        VARIATION IN ARABIC 1
        VARIATION IN ARABIC II
        VARIATION IN ENGLISH I
        VARIATION IN ENGLISH II
        VERB MEANING AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE

    Teaching and Assessment Methods

    A: Knowledge and Understanding
        Learning Outcomes
        A1 : Systematic understanding of major research questions, leading ideas and controversies in research into second language acquisition.
        A2 : Understanding of the rationale underlying the main language teaching methods.
        A3 : Familiarity with the central concepts of modern generative grammar, and how they are applied to questions and problems in research into second language acquisition.
        A4 : Understanding of the relationship between theory and evidence in research into language.
        A5 : Knowledge of the techniques and methods of analysis used in linguistically informed research into second language acquisition.

        Teaching Methods
        Methods employed include: Lectures, seminars and classes (A1-5) Individual supervision for work leading to the dissertation (A1-5) Library and web materials (A1-5) Independent learning and research (A1-5) Computer lab sessions (A5) Written/oral feedback on assessed coursework (A1-5)

        Assessment Methods

        Assessment methods involve: Coursework essays (A1-5) Practical exercises (A3,4,5) Research dissertation (A1-5)

    B: Intellectual/Cognitive Skills
        Learning Outcomes
        B1 : Analysis and description of complex language data.
        B2 : Use of evidence to support argumentation.
        B3 : Critical evaluation of argumentation.
        B4 : Production of coherent, well-researched and well-argued writing.
        B5 : Formulating research hypotheses, planning and managing a research project.

        Teaching Methods
        Methods employed include: Exercise material in seminars and classes (B1-4) Library and web materials (B2,3) Coursework essays and written/oral feedback (B1-5) Dissertation supervision (B1-5) Seminar in research design (B5) Independent learning and research (B1-5)

        Assessment Methods
        Assessment methods involve: Coursework essays (B1-5) Practical exercises (B1-5) Research dissertation (B1-5)

    C: Practical Skills
        Learning Outcomes
        C1 : To use text-based and on-line resources to address specific research questions.
        C2 : To analyse linguistic datasets in terms of their grammatical properties.
        C3 : To apply descriptive statistics to results from language research and be aware of the role of inferential statistics in language research.
        C4 : To initiate, plan and carry out an original research project.

        Teaching Methods
        Methods employed include: Lectures, seminars and classes (C1,2) Exercise material in seminars and classes (C1,2) Library and web materials (C1-4) Coursework essays and written/oral feedback (C1,2) Dissertation supervision (C1-4) Seminar in research design (C3,4) Independent learning and research (C1-4)

        Assessment Methods
        Assessment methods involve: Coursework essays (C1-4) Practical exercises (C1-4) Research dissertation (C1-5)

    D: Key Skills
        Learning Outcomes
        D1 : (a) Ability to write coherent, concise and informed responses in essays, reviews, reports, using technical terms appropriately. (b) Ability to present a coherent, concise and informed line of argument orally.
        D2 : (a) Basic word processing and internet skills. (b) Ability to communicate through e-mail. (c) Ability to use on-line library resources in investigating research questions.
        D3 : (a) Ability to use descriptive statistics (b) Awareness of the role of basic inferential statistics
        D4 : (a) Ability to apply linguistic tools in the analysis of unseen data (b) Ability to produce well-organised responses to new problems
        D6 : (a) Ability to evaluate own written work critically. (b) Knowledge of the key resources in the discipline required for pursuing own learning further.

        Teaching Methods
        Methods employed include: Lectures, seminars and classes (D1,3) Non-assessed workshop and training courses (D1,2) Exercise material in seminars and classes (D4) Library and web materials (D6) Coursework essays and written/oral feedback (D1,2,4,6) Dissertation supervision (D1,2,3,4,6) Seminar in research design (D3,4,6) Independent learning and research (D2,6)

        Assessment Methods
        Assessment of key skills forms part of the assessment of coursework essays, practical exercises and the research dissertation.
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