ENG7033 - Applied Linguistics: Language, Employment and Social Justice

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

1 - Illustrate and evaluate the application of linguistic knowledge in modern workplaces using appropriate conventions and terminology.
2 - Critically analyse the implications of the use of language for social justice in the workplace.
3 - Conduct a small research project on one professional area of special interest and communicate it appropriately.
4 - Design, organise, execute and evaluate professional activities in a workplace environment following set procedures and guidelines.
5 - Reflect upon your employability and career aims and contextualise this within current issues, debates and insights in applied linguistics more broadly.

Content:

You will consider a range of professions in which linguistic knowledge and research are used. Emphasising the problems addressed by linguists as well as the discourses involved in specific disciplines, the module will cover areas such as translation, lexicography, forensic linguistics, business and health communication, and language pathology. The importance of language in supporting social justice will be emphasised. As part of the module, you will either undertake a professional work placement or study for a CELTA qualification (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, which is offered externally and will enable you to teach English abroad) – preparatory guidance and support throughout for both options will be given.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Learning on the module happens both during ‘live’ classroom time and through ‘pre’- and ‘post’-class guided engagement with tasks and resources. You are expected to come to class having done the specified preparation, such as reading and other set tasks. For example, you will be asked to explore a range of language-related sectors and consider the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in them. Classroom interaction takes the form of workshops, which enable dynamic learning through a range of different formats to suit your needs and the requirements of the topic. Classroom time will be flexibly spent with mini lectures, individual tasks, pair work, group activities, discussions and formative feedback on individual and group work. The development of and reflection on employability skills and sector awareness is a key aspect, and guest speakers will be invited to contribute to the module where appropriate and feasible. In addition to the workshops, learning will occur through completion of a professional work placement or a CELTA, where you are expected to engage appropriately with tasks and guidelines set by the employer or course provider and to demonstrate professional conduct.

Workshops
Hours: 36
Intended Group Size: 24 maximum (whole cohort)

Placement or CELTA
Hours: 150
Intended Group Size: Individual

Guided independent study
Hours: 114



Further Details Relating to Assessment

The first assessment is a case study podcast in which you will describe and evaluate the application of linguistic knowledge and its implications for social justice in one professional context.

The second assessment is an employability element, which can take the form of either a professional work placement or a CELTA (subject to being accepted onto the course). You normally complete this assignment in a designated period after term 2 teaching finishes, or alternatively in a part-time arrangement in negotiation with your employer/course provider and tutor. You must pass the employability element and must adhere to the University’s professional conduct code. If you fail the employability element, you will be given a resit opportunity in the form of an alternative assessment.

The third assessment is a reflective report in which you will reflect on your experience and skills development during the placement or CELTA with reference to your career aims, and will contextualise this alongside one or two further areas of applied linguistics with consideration of implications for social justice.

There will be an ‘assignment unpacking’ session for each component. Throughout the module, summative assessment will be preceded by formative exercises and feedback, such as practice analysis, short written pieces, oral or written reports on set tasks, and referencing exercises.

Full details are available in the Module Handbook.

Assessment:

001 Case Study Podcast; 8 minutes; Mid-term 2 60%
002 Placement or CELTA; 150 hrs; Beginning of Term 3 %
003 Reflective Report; 2000 words; Mid-term 3 40%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - PRS_CODE=
Level - 7
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 7T23

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