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Applied linguistics and English language

Linking knowledge about the English language, how it is used, and the contexts in which it operates, this module explores the role of language in teaching and learning, business/professional communication, healthcare and many other real-life settings. You will develop a solid grounding in a range of ideas and techniques within applied linguistics (e.g. semantics, pragmatics, intercultural communication, conversation analysis, ethnography, language and globalisation, role of technologies) and apply this to case studies from a variety of contexts. You will enhance your practical understanding of how such research and enquiry can be useful in different areas of life, including your own professional practice.

Vocational relevance

This module can be taken as part of the Masters degree in Education (F70). If you are involved in language education, or any context that involves training and mentoring, and are interested in the role of language, you may wish to follow the MA in Education (Applied Linguistics)/Master of Education (Applied Linguistics) study route.

While not in any way restricted to such professionals, the module will be of great interest to anyone teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), English as an additional language (EAL), English as a foreign language (EFL) or any other aspect of English language teaching (ELT).

Qualifications

EE817 is an optional module in our:

It forms the first stage of the Applied Linguistics route to this qualification.

Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. These qualifications allow most postgraduate modules to count towards them. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.

Postgraduate Loans

If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you may also be eligible for a Postgraduate Loan available from Student Finance England. For more information, see Fees and funding.

Module

Module code

EE817

Credits

Study level

OU	Postgraduate
SCQF	11
FHEQ	7

Study method

Distance learning
Find out more in Why the OU?

Module cost

See Module registration

Entry requirements

Find out more about entry requirements.

Module details Entry requirements Module registration Study materials

What you will study

This module will equip you with theories, concepts and analytical approaches to improve your understanding of the English language and its use. You will find that this kind of knowledge allows you look at contexts where language is central, such as teaching and learning, in a new light and to understand how things could be improved or why things sometimes go wrong. The module is fully online and consists of four sections with several units each.

The first section introduces the field of applied linguistics and the types of contexts in which language is a central issue. It also includes introductions to key theories of (language) learning. You will cover:

What is applied linguistics?
Theoretical approaches to language
Social perspectives on language
What counts as evidence in applied linguistics?

The second section focuses on the formal and structural aspects of the English language to give you a good grounding for the tools and techniques introduced in the later sections. This is also a useful introduction to those of you who may not come from a linguistics background. You will cover:

The sounds of English
Elements of meaning
Words and meanings
Describing the structure of language
The structure of conversations
Language in theory versus language in use

The third section focuses on English language in contexts and interactions and really brings out the real-world relevance of what you are learning. You will cover:

Ethnography: Observing each other
Getting along: Politeness theory
Intercultural communication
A functional approach to language
Transitivity - Who does what to whom?
Genre

The final section makes explicit themes and threads that run through the module and relates them back to issues of applied linguistics from the first section. You will cover:

The role of English in the world
Language in a multimodal world
Changing technologies
Being critical
Texts and practices
Description versus interpretation

The frameworks, theories and approaches introduced are applied to ‘case studies’ of real-life contexts. Sometimes this is to explore what is actually going on in a situation, sometimes to provide solutions to problems and sometimes to provide alternative ways of looking at things. The range of case studies is broad, and includes the teaching and learning of language, working life, business discourse, health communication, the courts, etc. This breadth will allow you to compare and contrast individual approaches and perspectives in relation to each other, in relation to different real-life contexts and in relation to your own experiences.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. You and your tutor will primarily communicate with each other through email and tutorials. Tutorials are offered via online meeting rooms and support is also facilitated asynchronously in tutor group forums.

Assessment

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box above.

You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).

Course work includes

3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)

End-of-module assessment

No residential school

Future availability

The details given here are for the module that starts in October 2017. This module is expected to start for the last time in October 2023.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Essential Documents website.

Entry requirements

You should be prepared for study at postgraduate level and have the minimum of a bachelors degree (in any subject) from a UK University or an equivalent professional qualification. We warmly welcome applications from students who have an undergraduate degree level qualification from universities outside the UK and which is deemed equivalent to a UK higher education degree.

You will be encouraged to relate the content of the modules to your own experiences therefore you will need access to a teaching/learning context of some kind. You may teach at primary, secondary or tertiary level; you may teach English to speakers of other languages; perhaps you are a parent or childcarer; or are involved in mentoring or training at work. All of these could provide suitable settings to apply your learning.

You need to be able to spend approximately 15-18 hours per week on studying for this module.

Register

Start	End	England fee	Register
07 Oct 2017	Jun 2018	£2000.00	Registration closes 21/09/17 (places subject to availability) Register
This module is expected to start for the last time in October 2023.

Future availability

The details given here are for the module that starts in October 2017. This module is expected to start for the last time in October 2023.

Additional costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as a laptop, travel to tutorials, set books and internet access.

Ways to pay

We know there’s a lot to think about when choosing to study, not least how much it’s going to cost and how you can pay.

That’s why we keep our fees as low as possible and offer a range of flexible payment and funding options. To find out more see Fees and funding.

Study materials

What's included

All study materials are provided on the module website. This includes the module study guide and activities, audio/video material and a range of tools to support your study, including real-time conferencing and online forums.

Computing requirements

You will need a device with internet access to study this module as a web browser is used to access learning materials and activities. Any other computer-based activities you will need to carry out, such as word processing, using spreadsheets, taking part in online forums, and submitting files to the university for assessment, are specified in the module materials. If any additional software is needed for these tasks it will either be provided or is freely available. You may need administrative privileges to install the software.

Suitable devices are:

A Windows desktop or laptop running Windows 7 or later operating system
A Macintosh desktop or laptop running OS X 10.8 or later operating system.

Some software will not run on Linux, iOS or Android devices.

A netbook, tablet, smartphone or Linux computer that supports one of the browsers listed below may be suitable. However, these devices may not be suitable for some activities. If you intend to use one of these devices please ensure you have access to a suitable desktop or laptop device that uses the Windows or OS X operating system in case you are unable to carry out all activities on your mobile device.

Recent versions of the following browsers are suitable for carrying out web-based activities:

Safari
Chrome
Firefox
Edge

Or Internet Explorer 9 and above.

Using a browser upgraded to the latest version will maximise security when accessing the internet.

Using company or library computers may prevent you accessing some internet materials or installing additional software.

To be able to talk and listen in our online discussions you will need both a microphone and speakers/headphones.

Devices with small screens may make it difficult to view the material provided and carry out the activities. However, a device that has a resolution of at least 1024 pixels horizontally and also at least 768 pixels vertically should be adequate.

See our Skills for OU study website for further information about computing skills for study and educational deals for buying Microsoft Office software.

If you have a disability

Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader (and where applicable: musical notation and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way). Other alternative formats of the module materials may be available in the future.

If you have particular study requirements please tell us as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Find out more about our services for disabled students.

Applied linguistics and English language

Vocational relevance

Qualifications

Postgraduate Loans

Module

What you will study

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

Assessment

Course work includes

Future availability

Regulations

Entry requirements

Register

Future availability

Additional costs

Study costs

Ways to pay

Study materials

What's included

Computing requirements

If you have a disability

The Open University

OU Community

OU Students Community

Support

Study

Policy

What you will study

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

Assessment

Course work includes

Future availability

Regulations

Entry requirements

Register

Future availability

Additional costs

Study costs

Ways to pay

Study materials

What's included

Computing requirements

If you have a disability

Where do you live?