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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2011/2012
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Moray House School of Education : Research (EDU)

Postgraduate Course: Research in language (REDU11037)

Course Outline
SchoolMoray House School of Education CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Course typeStandard AvailabilityAvailable to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) Credits20
Home subject areaResearch (EDU) Other subject areaNone
Course website None Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionThis course is suitable for both practising teachers and for non-teachers who have an interest in language, the acquisition and learning of language within the contexts of first language (L1), English as a second or other language (ESOL) and a modern foreign language (L2). The course will give students the opportunity to develop further their understanding in the following areas:

* current approaches to research in the language area, including oral, scripted and spoken texts
* current research in the language areas providing multiple perspectives on the interpretation of texts
* changing social and cultural contexts of language in use as seen from the learner's and teacher's perspectives
* research in the language area, its interpretation and implications for participants' own research and practice

The key aims of the course are that participants have the opportunity to develop from an individual perspective their theoretical and practical understanding of research methodologies in language and their application to research in the language area. To achieve these the course will focus on:

* the choice and application of research methods best suited to the particular context of a research project in the language area
* the social and cultural contexts of language acquisition, learning and teaching
* the interwoven nature of language, the context in which it is used and its users
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs Students are required to purchase the core texts marked in bold.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?Yes
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2011/12 Flexible, Available to all students (SV1) WebCT enabled:  No Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
No Classes have been defined for this Course
First Class First class information not currently available
No Exam Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Successful completion of the course will allow participants to:

* gain a clear overview of research methodologies used in research in language
* develop skills in selecting research methods which are the most appropriate to undertake a piece of research in the language area
* analyse the strengths and limitations of different methodologies and methods available to the researcher in the language area
* consider the challenges inherent in embedding research perspectives on learning and teaching in language in practice
* be critically aware of strategies which enhance learning
* be critically aware of different perspectives of language in use
* to plan and undertake well designed independent research
Assessment Information
Participants will be required to produce an assignment of approximately 4000 words in which they either:

critically analyse current perspectives on research in language

or

connect current research perspectives on research in language to a piece of small-scale research of their own design.

Participants will be offered suggested topics/questions for the assignment but will also be able to negotiate with course tutors and identify specific topics or areas of investigation which interest them.

Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Not entered
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Not entered
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserMr Richard Easton
Tel: (0131 6)51 6424
Email: Richard.Easton@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Hazel Cuthbert
Tel: (0131 6)51 6046
Email: Hazel.Cuthbert@ed.ac.uk
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