Applied Linguistics MOOC
6 weeks
Course information
Taught by English
Please address all enquiries to FutureLearn
Course description
Course description
Do you want to know more about the role of language and its application in our everyday lives? Linguistics, the scientific study of language, is more than just theory. This online course will introduce you to practical, real-world applications including language teaching, language assessment and forensic linguistics. From reducing gender bias to simplifying legal texts, applied linguistics is crucial to effective communication. Working through a series of case studies with the help of experts who teach on our Applied Linguistics degrees, you will learn techniques and research methods that will let you see language usage in a whole new light.
The course is aimed at anyone with an interest in linguistics and language teaching, people considering a postgraduate degree in linguistics or TESOL and professionals already working in the field who want an update on current thinking and practise.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
There are no entry requirements for the current range of MOOCs available from the University of Leicester. You simply need an internet connection and a computer or tablet device. Some other courses may specify expected levels of understanding or experience in certain areas but this will be made clear before signing up for the course.
This course is designed for:
- anyone interested in linguistics and language teaching, and thinking of a career in these fields
- people considering a postgraduate degree in applied linguistics or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
- professionals already working in applied linguistics or related fields, who want an update on current thinking and practice.
English Language Requirements
There are no specific English language requirements for our MOOCs. However, to get the most out of this course you should have a reasonable command of written English.
Fees and funding
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
This course is a taster for the MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL for those who wish to further develop your academic and professional expertise in the field of English Language Teaching practice.
Our degrees are highly valued by educational employers and our MA qualifications will help you to raise your profile when seeking to advance your career as a language teaching professional. The field of English language teaching is increasingly competitive and many organisations see a Masters level qualification as an essential requirement. An MA from the University of Leicester indicates to employers that you have up-to-date knowledge and have developed critical and transferable skills that will equip you to take on a more senior role in the language teaching programme of any educational institution. Indeed, many of our past MA students have gone on to gain promotion or move into new demanding jobs on completion of the programme.
Related courses
Related courses
Applied Linguistics and TESOL
MA, full/part-time
Applied Linguistics and TESOL
MA, by distance learning
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Course structure
Week 1
Week 1
This week we will consider the questions: What is linguistics and applied linguistics? What do applied linguists do? What impact does applied linguistics have in the real world? In additional, we will look at the impact of applied linguistics on second language teaching, learning and assessment.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Week 2
Week 2
This week we will look at language and the big decisions in life. Using language testing and assessment as a theme, we will consider how allowing someone to practice without strong second language skills could put lives as risk, and how governments use language tests to control immigration. We will consider the usefulness of tests, and ask what are the qualities of a fair assessment.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Week 3
Week 3
Week 3 explores engagement in language learning, learner autonomy, and foreign language anxiety. We consider how we can observe and encourage engagement, how low-anxiety language classrooms can be created, and how greater learner autonomy can be promoted.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Week 4
Week 4
This week we will look at one area of linguistics, phonology, and consider how this helps us understand how important pronunciation is in our social lives as well as in language teaching and learning. We will look at accents: how we use them, lose them or change them, pronunciation and public image, and how, with the increasing use of English as an international language, pronunciation plays a central role in maintaining intelligibility.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Week 5
Week 5
In week 5 we will examine and analyse language in use. We will investigate the use of grammar in short samples of text, focusing on the use of modal verbs in authentic language. You will learn how to use corpus tools to analyse language in use, and discuss the value of corpus data.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Week 6
Week 6
In the final week of the course we invite you to take an inside look at the Applied Linguistics and TESOL research community at Leicester. We then consider some future directions and issues in the field. Language, and how we use it, is always changing, and this is particularly true for English. We will consider what this means for the field of applied linguistics and TESOL.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Teaching and learning
The course uses a mix of videos, articles and activities, with plenty of opportunities for discussion with fellow learners and further research.
At the end of each week of the course there is a set of multiple choice questions to test your understanding of what you have learned, and this will count towards your overall course score. Please note that this is a FutureLearn score, and is not valid as credit for other courses at the University of Leicester - although a MOOC is a great 'taster' for university learning.
Apply now
| Course | Duration | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Course Applied Linguistics | Duration 6 weeks | Availability Apply Now |
