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.
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No current presentation
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This module is expected to start for the last time in October 2023. |
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.
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) 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).
Entry
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 15-18 hours per week on studying for this module.
Preparatory work
We’ve developed some optional activities to help you prepare for Applied linguistics and English language (EE817), depending on your previous learning.
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 for different aspects of our everyday lives. It introduces ideas around what language is; and the field of applied linguistics, which explores and addresses situations where language plays a crucial role.
Activity 3
Understanding language and learning – A free OpenLearn course that considers the relationship between language and learning, it explains and illustrates the different relationships between language and learning, using videos and activities with real world examples of language in use.
Optional reading list
Here are some useful introductory readings from the first few weeks of Applied linguistics and English language. These readings are purely optional, and once you begin studying, the books will be available through the OU Library as ebooks or as PDF extracts on the module site.
- 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.
Qualifications
EE817 is an optional module in our:
EE817 is the recommended Stage 1 module in our:
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 a learning difficulty or disability that could impact on studying online please do speak with us and your tutor so that where possible reasonable adjustments can be made to facilitate your participation.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.
Study materials
What's included
You'll have access to a module website, which includes:
- a week-by-week study planner (the study guide)
- course-specific module materials
- audio and video content
- assessment details and submission section
- online tutorial access.
Computing requirements
You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.
Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.
To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).
Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.
Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.
It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.
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. While some of the assignments for this module encourage you to interact with others in your tutor group, alternative ways of working can be facilitated.
If you have a learning difficulty or disability that could impact on studying online, please do speak with us and your tutor so that where possible reasonable adjustments can be made to facilitate your participation.
Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
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).
Students also studied
Students who studied this module also studied at some time:
Future availability
Applied linguistics and English language starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2023, the last time we expect it to start. It will be replaced as part of a new MA in Linguistics (F97), which will start in October 2024.
How to register
We regret that we are currently unable to accept registrations for this module. Where the module is to be presented again in the future, relevant registration information will be displayed on this page as soon as it becomes available.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our
Student Policies and Regulations website.