EL7047 - Investigating Language for TESOL

The module will be delivered through a combination of interactive lectures and seminars. Key themes and concepts will be introduced in lectures, supported by in-class discussions, guided debates, and further exploration activities. All subject areas and theoretical debates within the module will be supported by reference to relevant literature, which you will read outside of class to further develop your knowledge and understanding of the field.

In addition to learning during taught hours with the module tutor, you will be expected to undertake both directed and independent learning. Directed learning will generally take the form of suggested weekly readings, relevant to that week’s research topic, and preparation for seminars where you will be expected to contribute to group work and full class discussion. Seminars will also contribute to the development of intellectual, transferable and practical skills. Independent learning will generally take the form of further reading and investigation, the consolidation of lecture and seminar notes, and revision/preparation for the assessment of the module.

All learning materials, tasks and readings will be posted on the e-learning portal (eLP) to facilitate full participation in the module. Additionally, you will receive formative feedback from your tutor. The module’s final, summative assessment will also provide an opportunity for learning.

The module aims to develop and expand your knowledge of the English language, and to enhance your skills in describing and analysing authentic spoken material and a wide range of grammatical phenomena. Lectures, seminars and workshops will develop your academic knowledge and skills. Your academic development will also be facilitated through engagement with the academic literature and by discussing problematic language data with your tutor and peers.

The module handbook provides details of lectures, seminars, reading lists and assessment criteria; lecture materials are made available on the e-Learning Portal. The module tutor will be available in lectures and seminars, in ‘Feedback and consultation hours’ (or ‘office hours’) and on email, to discuss any queries or concerns you have regarding any aspect of the module. Formative feedback will be provided through in-class activities and workshops.

In addition, you have a designated Personal Tutor throughout the duration of your programme. The academic side of the Personal Tutor’s role includes: monitoring your ongoing academic progress; helping you to develop self-reflection skills necessary for continuous academic development; directing you to further available services which can help you with your academic skills (e.g. Library’s Skills Plus). You are advised to meet with your Personal Tutor at least twice each semester to review your academic progress.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. To develop and expand your knowledge of the English language, in both spoken and written forms, and to consider different analyses of problematic language data.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. You will demonstrate an ability to describe and analyse language and meaning.

3. You will demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate different types of text and linguistic data.

4. You will have acquired transferable skills using discourse analysis and corpora as tools for language learning and language teaching.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

5. You will demonstrate intellectual openness to different theoretical perspectives and empirical methods of enquiry.

Formative assessment
1. For formative assessment, you will receive feedback on exercises devised by the module tutors. Feedback on these exercises will assist in the preparation of the summative assignments.

2. You will also benefit from guidance and feedback in the practical workshop on language corpora.

Formative assessment and feedback will also take place as part of the continual process of group discussion and analysis of data in seminars.

Formative assessment addresses all five MLOs.

Summative (graded) Assessments
1. Exam

The exam will ask you to carry out a number of tasks to demonstrate understanding of key ideas explored in the module and your ability to critically evaluate research by others. The assessment is worth 25% of the total grade for the module.

This assessment will be part of the learning process and addresses the first three MLOs.

2. 3000-word assignment

In this assignment you will develop your own argument, based on research literature, of how understanding of a specific aspect of language or meaning can be applied to promote a deeper understanding of the relationship between language and meaning in contexts of learning and teaching. The assessment is worth 75% of the total grade for the module.

This assessment will be part of the learning process and addresses all five MLOs.

Formative assessment
1. For formative assessment, you will receive feedback on exercises devised by the module tutors. Feedback on these exercises will assist in the preparation of the summative assignments.

2. You will also benefit from guidance and feedback in the practical workshop on language corpora.

Formative assessment and feedback will also take place as part of the continual process of group discussion and analysis of data in seminars.

Formative assessment addresses all five MLOs.

Summative (graded) Assessments
1. Exam

The exam will ask you to carry out a number of tasks to demonstrate understanding of key ideas explored in the module and your ability to critically evaluate research by others. The assessment is worth 25% of the total grade for the module.

This assessment will be part of the learning process and addresses the first three MLOs.

2. 3000-word assignment

In this assignment you will develop your own argument, based on research literature, of how understanding of a specific aspect of language or meaning can be applied to promote a deeper understanding of the relationship between language and meaning in contexts of learning and teaching. The assessment is worth 75% of the total grade for the module.

This assessment will be part of the learning process and addresses all five MLOs.

Feedback will be provided using a template reflecting assessment criteria and comments on the scripts.

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It is important for students of TESOL to be able to critically examine key aspects of the English language and to consider how understanding of these is relevant in learning and teaching. This module will provide you with a range of descriptive, critical, and analytical tools that are required for analysing key aspects of language and for examining the relationship between language and meaning in a range of contexts. The module considers phenomena which present difficulties for learners of a second or foreign language and explores how a detailed understanding of language in context, using data from a range of sources, such as narrative, classroom discourse, figurative language, and corpora, can be used as an effective tool in the teaching and learning of English as another language. You will engage with current debates in linguistic theory and applied linguistics and develop the skills necessary for discovering patterns in language theory and data.