Critical Approaches to Applied Linguistics

Catalog description

APLNG290N is a critical, exploratory introduction to the discipline of applied linguistics designed primarily for undergraduate students who plan to enroll in the major; as such, the course is a required course for all students who plan to major in Applied Linguistics. It serves as the prerequisite course for APLNG 450W (Research Methods) and APLNG494 (Capstone), two higher-level required courses for the major. In addition, this course is open to all interested undergraduate students as a General Education course (GH & GS). To introduce the fundamental perspectives of theory and practice in the discipline, the course draws upon several foundations: sociology, psychology, education, and linguistics. To prepare students for future study and work within the discipline, the course will give students the opportunity to define and distinguish the basic approaches and principles of Applied Linguistics (language as social practice, language diversity as the human default, how language and culture intersect); to complete hands-on work with data and research methods (ethnographic interviews; critical and conversation discourse analysis); to analyze and critique scholarly and popular readings in discussion with classmates and instructor; and to collaborate with each other in designing and producing project work, individually and in small groups, relating to linguistic needs, challenges, and advocacy issues in a variety of workplaces and contexts. Project work might include workplaces such as corporations, media companies, and technology companies, or contemporary innovations such as artificial intelligence, user experience research, computer-mediated education, and other settings where language and culture invite exploration and responsive discussion.