LSMPAL: Principles of Applied Linguistics

Module code: LSMPAL

Module provider: English Language and Applied Linguistics; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Rodney Jones, email: r.h.jones@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Professor Sylvia Jaworska, email: s.jaworska@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module provides an overview of the range of research contexts, theories and methods relevant to the field of applied linguistics. It exposes students to the different ways linguistics can be applied to solving ‘real-world’ problems in domains such as language learning, language policy, healthcare, professional communication, and the media, and introduces them to different theoretical frameworks, research designs and analytical tools used in applied linguistics research. It also equips students with the tools to review and evaluate research in applied linguistics and connect that research to practice in classrooms, workplaces and other relevant settings. This module provides the foundation for students’ further study of applied linguistics in their subsequent core and optional modules. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe the different ways linguistics can be applied to solving problems in a variety of real-world contexts in which language use is the central issue including language teaching and learning, language policy and planning, language rights and discrimination, literacies of various kinds, language use in the workplace, language and power, language and identity, language and migration, and language in the media and new media;
2. Explain the major frameworks used in Applied Linguistics including but not limited to Critical Language Studies, Discourse Analysis, Linguistic Ethnography, Genre Analysis, Language for Specific Purposes, Multimodality, New Literacy Studies, and Sociocultural Theory;
3. Evaluate research studies which use a range of different frameworks and methods;
4. Apply the findings from research to evaluating language practices in specific settings. 

Module content

The topics to be covered during the module include:

• Applied and applicable linguistics,
• Language in social interaction;
• Language and identity;
• Language in education;
• Language policy and planning;
• Language in workplace and professional communication;
• Language and health;
• Language and the law;
• Language and power;
• Language in the media/new media;
• Language and discrimination. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module includes interactive lectures covering the core topics, student presentations of and debates about selected studies in applied linguistics, small group discussions, and online video and textual content.  

Study hours

At least 18 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students submit an outline of their essay in week 7 for formative assessment.

Reassessment

Additional costs