Applied Linguistics MA Courses

Description:

This course is an introduction to educational and sociolinguistic issues affecting the promotion and maintenance of individual and societal bilingualism, multilingualism, and multiculturalism. The societal consequences of being multilingual and multicultural and the perspectives of both students and educators in multilingual/multicultural language classrooms will be examined.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for APLI 642 may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously or concurrently: EDUC 6000 .

Description:

This course examines issues in second language acquisition and bilingualism/multilingualism from a cognitive (psycholinguistic) perspective. The aim of the course is to familiarize students with basic psycholinguistic concepts of language representation and use, focusing on the learning of different aspects of language, the role of attention and memory in language acquisition, the development of language comprehension and production skills, and the cognitive consequences of bilingualism/multilingualism. Throughout the course, emphasis is given to understanding research methodologies used in psycholinguistic investigations.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for APLI 642 may not take this course for credit.

Description:

The acquisition of a second language is a process that is inherently variable due to factors such as the influence of the learner’s first language, the target language, extralinguistic variables, and other factors. This course examines the interplay of these variables, focusing on current research in variable second language acquisition and on the pedagogical implications and applications of this knowledge for second language teaching.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for this topic under an APLI 651 number may not take this course for credit.

Description:

The course provides an overview of learners’ individual differences in cognitive, social, affective, and motivational variables and the role of those differences in second language teaching and learning. Course topics may include language aptitude, motivation, learning and cognitive styles, personality, and language learning strategies. The course offers a research-based framework for understanding how individual differences impact language learning for different learners in various learning contexts.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for this topic under an APLI 651 number may not take this course for credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously: APLI 604.

Description:

This course provides an overview of different perspectives that have been taken on the ways previously learned languages affect the learning of subsequent languages. Topics include: the contrastive analysis and error analysis approaches; avoidance; markedness; selective, bidirectional, and conceptual transfer; and factors affecting cross-linguistic influence among trilingual and multilingual speakers. Throughout the course, the implications for language teaching of the theoretical perspectives and empirical findings are considered.

Component(s):

Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously or concurrently: APLI 604.

Description:

This course is an introduction to second language phonology, with emphasis on how theoretical knowledge and research can be applied to the teaching of pronunciation in traditional and computer-based environments. This course familiarizes students with the English sound system and associated phonetic phenomena, research in the development of second language phonology, and key concepts in phonemic representation, production and perception.

Component(s):

Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously or concurrently: APLI 604.

Description:

The course provides an overview of research perspectives on second language vocabulary acquisition. Topics include the characteristics of lexis, the structure of the mental lexicon, implicit and explicit learning, and issues in assessment. The course also outlines a research-informed approach to instruction: in addition to examining both old and new techniques for teaching vocabulary, it explores developments in corpus linguistics that are relevant to vocabulary instruction and materials design.

Component(s):

Lecture

Prerequisite/Corequisite:

The following course must be completed previously or concurrently: APLI 604.

Description:

This course surveys the theoretical and empirical literature related to the teaching and learning of grammar in second language classrooms. Topics include the nature of pedagogical rules, the use of metalinguistic terminology, teachers’ knowledge and beliefs, learner characteristics, task types, and sequencing. Students also study a grammar structure in depth for which they subsequently develop, pilot, and critically evaluate a set of instructional materials.

Component(s):

Lecture

Description:

This course focuses on current research and practice in language awareness relating to language teaching and learning for a variety of learners in different contexts. Topics may include the learning of first, second and additional languages, language teaching methodology, language teacher education, attitudes towards language, cross-linguistic and cross-cultural awareness, and critical language awareness. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on both the theoretical and practical implications of language awareness.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for this topic under an APLI 651 number may not take this course for credit.

Description:

The course provides an overview of pragmatics, which includes topics ranging from reference, implicature, presupposition, speech acts, information structure, and conversational structure. The course also provides a research-informed approach to the study of these topics in second language learning contexts, exploring developments in second language research that are relevant to the understanding of pragmatics.

Component(s):

Lecture

Description:

The course provides an overview of several topics in second language listening and speaking such as fluency, formulaic language, strategies, and inferencing. The course provides a research-informed approach to second language listening and speaking, exploring trends in second language acquisition research and pedagogy that are relevant to the understanding of skill development.

Component(s):

Lecture

Description:

The aims of the course are to examine the evolution of the syllabus in second language teaching and to consider issues related to the development, planning and implementation of language programs in a range of educational settings. Topics include the history of second language teaching; current issues in pedagogical practice; assessment of student needs; and the design, sequencing, and evaluation of language teaching materials.

Component(s):

Lecture

Notes:

• Students who have received credit for APLI 638 may not take this course for credit.

Description:

The course provides an overview of theory and research that informs language testing. Students explore historical developments in language assessment as well as current trends. The course enables them to critically evaluate a range of test types including standardized placement instruments, diagnostic tests, progress/achievement measures, and non-traditional assessment techniques. Students are guided in designing sample tests; they are also familiarized with established methods for analyzing test items and interpreting results.

Component(s):

Lecture

Description:

This course explores theoretical and applied issues related to the use of technology in second language learning and teaching. The principal aims of the course are to enable students to critically evaluate existing instructional uses of technology and to design methodologically sound technology-based materials for second language teaching. Emphasis is placed on developing skills needed for the integration of instructional technology into second language instruction.

Component(s):

Lecture

Description:

This course examines the development of reading and writing abilities in a second language, including the connections between the two. It discusses literacy issues pertaining to different age groups and proficiency levels, including university students acquiring advanced academic writing skills. Throughout the course, the implications for language teaching of the different theoretical and empirical findings will be considered.

Component(s):

Lecture

Description:

This course is designed for students who have some ESL teaching experience and a particular interest in working in the field of teacher training. The course has both a practical and a theoretical component. In the practical component, students observe and assist novice ESL teachers; in the theoretical component, students meet weekly in an academic seminar.

Component(s):

Lecture