Course description
What will I study?
Taught course content is organised into a series of modules, offering critical approaches to topics such as: accents of English, in relation to regional and social variation; the analysis of conversational English occurring in monolingual and bilingual settings; uses of English in schools and classrooms; English language and literacies in the modern world; language, gender and sexuality; aspects of the history of English; generative approaches to the description of English.
In addition, a research methods module enables students to acquire an understanding of the theoretical principles underpinning language research and practical familiarity with research tools and resources. This prepares students for conducting their dissertation project.
How will I study?
The course combines face-to-face teaching sessions with on-line supported learning. A non-assessed foundation module focuses on essential knowledge in the fields of grammar and phonology and offers opportunities for familiarisation with webCT skills which students will require for those aspects of the course which are offered on-line. Face-to-face sessions include formal presentations by Edge Hill tutors and occasional guest lectures. Practical workshops are offered, for example, on aspects of research design and analysis of linguistic data, and students have opportunities for group discussions both face-to-face and on-line. Structured individual supervision is provided for the proposing and writing of the dissertation.
Who will be teaching me?
This Master's degree is taught and assessed by Edge Hill staff, who have substantial teaching and research experience across the field of English language studies, including historical and contemporary phonology, discourse analysis and educational linguistics.
How will I be assessed?
Continuous assessment operates throughout semesters one to three, with varied assessment tasks relating to the content of taught modules. Students propose and refine their dissertation topics in semester three, for completion in semester four.