(MA) Master of Arts
Applied Linguistics
Current
University of Essex
University of Essex
Language and Linguistics
Colchester Campus
Masters
Full-time or part-time
None
MA Q11012
14/02/2013
Details
Professional accreditation
None
Admission criteria
A degree with an overall 2:1.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 5.5 except for 6.0 in writing
Course qualifiers
A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The
specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of
Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is
optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).
None
Rules of assessment
Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.
Additional notes
None
External examiners
External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment.
External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course.
They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards.
External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.
Programme aims
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.
Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods
On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:
A: Knowledge and understanding
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.
Learning 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 and cognitive skills
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
Learning 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
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.
Learning 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
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 statistic
D4: (a) Ability to apply linguistic tools in the analysis of unseen data
(b) Ability to produce well-organised responses to new problem
D6: (a) Ability to evaluate own written work critically.
(b) Knowledge of the key resources in the discipline required for pursuing own learning further
Learning 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.