module specification

This module combines a taught module and a supervised research project. During the spring term, the module explores the range of approaches, methods and traditions in research in Arabic language teaching and learning and Arabic linguistics.You will explore competing andomplementary research paradigms found in the field and their corresponding approaches to research design. You will examine the opportunities and challenges that quantitative approaches offer as well as issues of validity, reliability, and sampling. Similarly, you will be introduced to a wide range of qualitative approaches to research in Arabic language and Arabic language teaching.

You will discuss issues surrounding the use of questionnaires as research tools and the uses of interviewing and observations. You will also investigate current approaches, issues and debates in classroom research, with a particular focus on Action Research.

In this module you will also be encouraged to explore issues and current approaches to collecting and analysing naturalistic language data as well as, more broadly, communication in Arabic research.

Each session will consist of a 3-hour session using Arabic as a medium of instruction and discussion.

The ultimate aim of this module is to prepare you for the MA Arabic Language Teaching Dissertation project that follows by giving you a solid grounding in both current research methodology in Arabic language teaching and learning and the theoretical paradigms from which they arise and to understand, identify and evaluate different research methodologies.

The second part of the module involves a supervised but independent research study leading to a 12,000 dissertation. You will have the chance to explore a disciplinary topic that is of your particular interest or relevance to your context. You will be able to conduct classroom research on aspects of Arabic language teaching and learning and Arabic linguistics, or can choose other relevant themes such as Arabic sociolinguistics, linguistics, language testing, communication, or literature among others. You will be encouraged to draw on different data collection methodologies and use relevant paradigms in analysing your data.

In this module, you will:

• pursue an area of personal disciplinary interest in a way that demands rigorous analytical and critical thinking and encourages you to push your own personal and professional boundaries.
• formulate relevant and original questions, undertake research that addresses them, and provide persuasive and academically sustainable arguments to support them.
• develop your ability to critically review and make use of an extensive and appropriate bibliography in your own work.
• expand your understanding of the relationship between research, theory, practice and ‘real world’ problems in the Arabic language.
• develop your independence as a self-directed and self-motivated professional in problem-posing and problem-solving through designing, undertaking, and writing about your own research.

The module introduces the main research paradigms in Arabic language teaching and learning, Arabic linguistics, and/or Arabic literature and invites students to explore their epistemological and ontological differences. Quantitative, qualitative and mixed approaches to research are studied in detail with particular focus on the exploration of research questions that address issues related to Arabic language, language learning and language teaching (LO1, LO2).

Students will study a range of data collection techniques and their suitability for different approaches, including questionnaires, interviews, focus, groups, and observations. Ethical considerations in the design of research projects will also be discussed. Students will explore a range of data analysis strategies (LO3, LO4).

After students submit their research proposals, they are assigned a supervisor who will guide them throughout the dissertation process. Students are entitled to a minimum of 6 hours of supervisory contact time and are expected to engage actively with their supervisors, agreeing times and attending meetings, remaining in contact, and responding to correspondence (LO5).

Students enrolled in this module will be encouraged to engage with recommended readings in preparation for each session. As the module adopts a blended-learning approach, students will have access to a dedicated module site (Weblearn) where they will find learning activities, writing guidelines, supporting documents, and online forums where they can interact with peers and tutors in synchronous and asynchronous ways.

Our students will have access to the university library website and make use of electronic journals, e-books, databases, and full-text journals. Support for developing and improving IT skills, as well as information on other web-based study support, is available on the library website. Students will have a nominated tutor who will support and guide them through the module and who they can consult in person, by email, or via a designated video-conference software.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

• suggest, design and undertake future research in the field of Arabic language teaching and learning, Arabic linguistics, or Arabic literature (LO1)
• describe, analyse and evaluate theory in the above areas and use this in professional and personal decision making (LO2)
• write extensively and persuasively about debates and issues in the field of Arabic language learning, Arabic language teaching, and Arabic linguistics, and/or Arabic literature, demonstrating the interface between practice, research, and theory (LO3)
• make useful contributions to local and global developments, debates and practices in Arabic language and Arabic language education issues in their own context and elsewhere (LO4)
• continue to advance their knowledge and understanding and develop their research skills to match the demands of their professional life (LO5)

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