Research in language (P02596)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : EDU-P-P02596

This course is suitable for both practising teachers and for non-teachers who have an interest in language, the acquisition and learning of language within the contexts of first language (L1), English as a second or other language (ESOL) and a modern foreign language (L2). The course will give students the opportunity to develop further their understanding in the following areas:

• current approaches to research in the language area, including oral, scripted and spoken texts
• current research in the language areas providing multiple perspectives on the interpretation of texts
• changing social and cultural contexts of language in use as seen from the learner’s and teacher’s perspectives
• research in the language area, its interpretation and implications for participants’ own research and practice

The key aims of the course are that participants have the opportunity to develop from an individual perspective their theoretical and practical understanding of research methodologies in language and their application to research in the language area. To achieve these the course will focus on:

• the choice and application of research methods best suited to the particular context of a research project in the language area
• the social and cultural contexts of language acquisition, learning and teaching
• the interwoven nature of language, the context in which it is used and its users

Entry Requirements

? Costs : Students are required to purchase the core texts marked in bold.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Research (EDU), (The Moray House School of Education, Schedule C)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : To be arranged/Unknown

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Successful completion of the course will allow participants to:

• gain a clear overview of research methodologies used in research in language
• develop skills in selecting research methods which are the most appropriate to undertake a piece of research in the language area
• analyse the strengths and limitations of different methodologies and methods available to the researcher in the language area
• consider the challenges inherent in embedding research perspectives on learning and teaching in language in practice
• be critically aware of strategies which enhance learning
• be critically aware of different perspectives of language in use
• to plan and undertake well designed independent research

Assessment Information

Participants will be required to produce an assignment of approximately 4000 words in which they either:

critically analyse current perspectives on research in language

or

connect current research perspectives on research in language to a piece of small-scale research of their own design.

Participants will be offered suggested topics/questions for the assignment but will also be able to negotiate with course tutors and identify specific topics or areas of investigation which interest them.