This course unit is one of the newer developments on the MA TESOL programme. It represents a desire by the team to bring language study back to the fore as channelled through our particular interests in exploring how language works in different contexts modalities etc. It aims to:
- develop awareness of how language differs across different discourse modes and contexts;
- develop an understanding of how a range of theoretical perspectives can be used to represent, analyse and / or evaluate language across different discourse modes and contexts; and
- develop the skills and understanding necessary to represent, analyse and / or evaluate a range of uses of language in the participants’ professional practice.
The course unit is co-ordinated by one tutor (Richard in 2009, Julian in 2010 and 2011) but usually involves six subcomponents, each taught by a different member of the team. Thus, for example, Julian explores written discourse and Juup spoken discourse; Richard takes a look at the use of literary texts as a means for developing language awareness in the TESOL classroom; and Diane provides a cognitive perspective on visual literacy with reference to video texts.
Participants must take part the taught part of the course unit and thus experience all six perspectives on offer, but for the second half of the course unit, they opt to undertake mini-projects in two of these perspectives leading to a two-component assignment in which these options are addressed.
