Investigating Language in Action

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EDU E819

More information: Course Guide
Investigating Language in Action

EDU E819

More information: Course Guide

Investigating Language in Action

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Course Coordinator: Dr Vanliza Chow, B(phil), MA, PhD (University of Birmingham)

Course Developer: The Open University, UK, Course Team

Aims
This course aims to:

  • Develop students' understanding of language-related problems in various professional and cultural contexts;
  • Explore how the English language is taught in different regional contexts;
  • Examine how English is used from a range of different perspectives: functional, critical and ethnographic;
  • Explore the relevance of research in the field of applied language studies to contemporary issues in both global and local contexts;
  • Develop students' ability to critically reflect on the connection between theories and practical applications in the fields of education and English language teaching.

Contents
The course covers the following topics:

  • Theories for investigating language in action;
  • Describing English;
  • English in the world;
  • Systemic Functional Linguistics;
  • Critical Discourse Analysis;
  • Ethnography

Learning support
This course involves 600 study hours. There are ten two-hour tutorials, three three-hour day schools (which take place at weekends) and two 'surgeries' for individual consultation.

Assessment
There are five assignments, including a project, and a three-hour examination. Except for some designated assignments, students are required to submit assignments via the Online Learning Environment (OLE).

Set book(s)
Coffin, C, Donohue, J and North, S. P (2009) Exploring English Grammar: From formal to functional, London: Routledge.