Entry requirements
We’ve designed this Stage 2 module to follow the Stage 1 module Applied linguistics and English language (EE817). You must have passed this or another Stage 1 module from the Masters in Education (F70).
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 do not need to be employed in a formal educational setting to study this module. However, you will need to be able to apply your learning to a relevant context or learning environment of some kind. Such contexts may include, but are not limited to, teaching at primary, secondary or tertiary level, teaching English to speakers of other languages, involvement in work-based training, mentoring, being a primary care giver, online learning and teaching environments, or providing some form of instruction. All of these could provide suitable settings to apply your learning.
You need to be able to spend approximately 12-15 hours per week on studying for this module.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
Preparatory work
We’ve developed some optional activities to help you prepare for Language, literacy and learning (EE818), depending on your previous learning.
If you have come to study this module through credit transfer or from another MA Education pathway, the following activities will be useful to complete before starting the module.
If you studied Applied linguistics and English language (EE817), then you may wish to skim Activities 1 and 2 as a refresher, or you may wish to move straight to Activity 3.
Activity 1
Succeeding in Postgraduate Study – If you're brand new to masters study, then this free Badged Open Course will get you started on study skills, time management and more.
Activity 2
Language in the Real World – This free OpenLearn course explains and illustrates why knowledge about how language works (i.e. ‘linguistics’) is helpful – some might say essential – for different aspects of our everyday lives.
Optional reading list
If you haven't studied Applied linguistics and English language (EE817) the recommended reading below is provided to whet your appetite and is purely optional.
- Burns, A., Davies, W., Dörnyei, Z., Durrant, P., House, J., Hudson, R., Hunston, S., Kirkpatrick, A., Knight, D., and Richards, J.C. (2009) What is Applied Linguistics? Cambridge University Press Reading Room.
- Introduction section of: Simpson, J. (2011) The Routledge Handbook of Applied Linguistics, Abingdon, Routledge.
- Cook, G. (2009) ‘The “Design Features” of Language’, Milton Keynes, The Open University. pp. 276–284, 287–288 from: Pinker, S. (1994) The Language Instinct: The new science of language and mind, London, Penguin Books.
- Steven Pinker on Language Pragmatics (2016) Floating University video, added by Big Think [Online]. Available at http://bigthink.com/floating-university/language-pragmatics-why-we-cant-talk-to-computers (Accessed 8 June 2016).
- Hymes, D. (1971 [1972]) ‘On communicative Competence’, in Pride, J.B. and J. Holmes (eds.) Sociolinguistics: Selected Readings, Harmondsworth, Penguin, pp. 269–93.
Activity 3
Understanding Language and Learning – This free OpenLearn course explores how the relationship between language and learning is approached in three ways: learning a language, learning about language and learning through language.
Optional reading list
If you’ve already completed Applied linguistics and English language (EE817) the following readings provide a good introduction to the core theory of the module.
- Zuengler, J. & Miller, E.R. (2006). Cognitive and sociocultural perspectives: Two parallel SLA worlds? Tesol quarterly 40 (1), 35-58, 2006
- Halliday, M.A.K. (2004) ‘Three aspects of children’s language development: learning language, learning through language, learning about language’, in Webster, J. (ed.) Collected Works of M.A.K. Halliday, Vol. 4, The Language of Early Childhood, London, Continuum.
- Hall, Joan Kelly. Teaching and Researching : Language and Culture, Routledge, 2011. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/open/detail.action?docID=1602052
If you have access to the OU Library, you can view Teaching and Researching online, or you may like to buy a hard copy.