module specification

This module is a supervised but independent research study leading to a 12,000-15,000 word dissertation. It offers students the chance to explore a disciplinary topic that is of particular interest or relevance to themselves. Students can conduct Action Research or Classroom Research on aspects of language teaching and learning or choose other relevant themes such as sociolinguistics, linguistics, social semiotics and multimodality, literacy and oracy, educational cultures, intercultural communication. Students draw on different data collection methodologies and use relevant paradigms in analysing their data.

BA degree in relevant field, some teaching experience
Taught modules for MATESOL & Applied Linguistics

The module enables students to explore areas of interest and personal and/or professional relevance within a supported and supportive framework.  It aims to stretch students’ own expectations of what they can achieve and develops their disciplinary knowledge and understanding as well as their confidence in working with disciplinary theory.
Specifically it aims to:

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

N/A

Research training is undertaken during the Research Methods Module during which students formulate their ideas for their dissertation. They are allocated an appropriate supervisor towards the end of the Research Methods module and have an initial tutorial (via Email/phone in case of distance learning) to discuss the research proposal which comprises an assessed component of that module.
Students are entitled to up to six supervisory sessions. Distance Learning students will receive the same input with access to an allocated tutor who is available to support them either face-to-face, by e-mail or by telephone.  Students are expected to have at least three face to face tutorials (three contacts on the content of their research/dissertation in the case of distance learning).

Students can show work to their supervisor (research tools, data, analytic frameworks, extracts from the writing etc.) for feedback and advice. This is done via email in the case of Distance Learning.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. suggest, design and undertake future research in the field
2. describe, analyse and evaluate theory in applied linguistics and education  and use this in professional and personal decision making
3. write extensively and persuasively on debates and issues in the field of applied linguistics demonstrating the interface between practice, research and theory
4. make useful contributions to national developments, debates and practices in language and language education related issues in their own country and elsewhere
5. continue to advance their knowledge and understanding and develop their research skills to match the demands of their professional life.

Assessed by written dissertation

Books
N/A (students produce their own bibliographies in consultation with their supervisors)