Major Essay
Major essay, under the supervision of a faculty supervisor, on a specific issue in subsequent language teaching, curriculum design, professional development, student assessment, program evaluation, or a related area. Prerequisite: Completion of all course work; approval of the major essay topic by the supervisor.
MA Research and Thesis
A research project involving the preparation and defence of a thesis on a topic in subsequent language teaching, curriculum design, professional development, student assessment, program evaluation, or a related area, demonstrating capacity for independent work. Research to be conducted under the supervision of a faculty supervisor and defended at an oral examination.
Prerequisite: Completion of all course work; approval of the thesis proposal by the MA Program Committee.
Academic and Cultural Orientation for International Graduate Students in Applied Linguistics I
Academic and cultural orientation appropriate to academic context. Foundations of advanced academic skills in library research, note-taking, essay writing, seminar and workshop presentations, based on concepts and terminology in Applied Linguistics. Guidance in individual and group assignments.
Academic and Cultural Orientation for International Graduate Students in Applied Linguistics II
Development of academic skills in preparation for credit work at the MA level; special emphasis on academic writing skills on topics related to Applied Linguistics. Guidance on individual assignments. Practice with electronic library databases and sources.
Academic and Cultural Orientation for International Graduate Students in Applied Linguistics III
Continued preparation of academic skills, especially research, note-taking and writing skills, as relevant to Applied Linguistics/Teaching English as a Subsequent Language in preparation for MA work.
Foundations of Language Teaching and Learning
Linguistic, educational and social foundations of subsequent language teaching in the Canadian context as well as in international settings. Models of curriculum design and student assessment. Current trends in language teaching, program development, professional development, and related areas.
Sociolinguistics Applied to Language Teaching and Learning
Theoretical concepts and research findings in sociolinguistics applied to the teaching and learning of English as a subsequent language. Focus on the social and cultural aspects of language, on the collaborative and social aspects of language learning, on the link between language and personal or social identity, and on the influence of the social world on language use, learning and teaching.
Pedagogical Grammar: Theory, Research and Practice
Models of pedagogical grammar and their relationship to theories of subsequent language acquisition. Focus on issues arising in classroom learning. Application of grammar analyses to learning/teaching situations. Survey and critique of selected Information Technology tools available for the development of grammar skills.
Oral/Aural Skills in Teaching English as a Subsequent Language: Theory, Research and Practice
Theoretical insights and research findings relevant to the pedagogy of speaking and listening, including models of oral interaction and of listening comprehension, and trends in speaking/listening instruction. Canadian Language Benchmarks for speaking and listening.
Reading in Teaching English as a Subsequent Language: Theory, Research, and Practice
Models of the process and pedagogy of subsequent language reading. Canadian Language Benchmarks. Practical and theoretical foundations for decisions regarding materials design, instructional methodology, and testing.
Writing in Teaching English as a Subsequent Language: Theory, Research, and Practice
Theoretical models of writing and instructional practices. Current issues in ESL writing research and teaching, including genre theory, contrastive rhetoric, feedback, assessment and critique of assessment tools (e.g. CLBs, IELTS), Information Technology.
Subsequent Language Acquisition Theory and Research
Critical examination of current theories and key issues in subsequent language acquisition research, from various perspectives (linguistic, psycholinguistic, sociolinguistic, etc.). Integration of theoretical models, research evidence and practice.
Independent Study
Research project carried out in collaboration with a faculty member. Enrichment of theoretical knowledge in a particular area of TESL, and development of the ability to apply that knowledge practically.
Note: Approval of the Graduate Committee is required for registration in this course.
Research Issues and Methodology in Subsequent Language Education
Research methods and issues in subsequent language teaching, curriculum design, professional development, student assessment, program evaluation, and related areas.
Special Topics in Applied Linguistics
Selected issues or topics in the theory and practice of applied linguistics according to the specific areas of instructional expertise.