LN7006: Linguistics and Language Teaching the Description of Language and its Pedagogic Applications Assessment

Assessment

Short Description

Please choose one of the following tasks and write 2,000 to 2,500 words on a linguistic topic of your interest: 

• Linguistic Comparison
• Linguistics in the Classroom: 
• Analysing Communication

Please give your assignment an appropriate title.

Coursework Essay in Linguistics and Language Teaching

Please choose one of the following tasks and write 2,000 to 2,500 words on a topic of your interest. Note that you must choose an area that is different from the one used for your presentation, e.g., if your presentation was on Morphology, your coursework essay must be on a different module topic. Please give your assignment an appropriate title, reflecting the particular aspect of the module topic you are investigating. The assignment must be uploaded to WebLearn no later than 14 January 2026, 3pm.

1. Linguistic Comparison:

Identify a particular area in English Linguistics, e.g., an aspect of pragmatics or segmental phonology, and compare it with the corresponding system of your own language or another language you have some familiarity with. Discuss similarities and differences and account for these as appropriate. More importantly, you should discuss what implications these similarities and differences might have for second language learners or for everyday communication and/or why this is an important area in language teaching and language use. You may need to narrow your topic down to a manageable area so that you can provide original examples and comparisons and in-depth discussions.

2. Linguistics in the Classroom:

Describe and analyse one or more incidents that you have witnessed in language classrooms where teacher’s knowledge of linguistics would have been desirable. A careful and clear analysis of what has happened and to what area of linguistics they are related will set the background for further evaluation and discussion of the incidents. Note that you must analyse a specific incident, not a generalised observation. In light of your further reading around the topic, discuss to what extent knowledge of linguistics can help a language teacher in overcoming such problems and what impact it can have on the process of L2 teaching and learning.

4. Analysing Communication:

Using your own data, gathered from native English-speakers conversing naturally or live unscripted TV/Radio discussion, record, transcribe and analyse a segment of the conversation (finalise your choice of the conversation with your tutor). Please check that your chosen speech/dialogue sample has not been transcribed before. Do not use a transcription tool but do the transcription yourself. The dialogue or talk does not have to be very long. Use ordinary writing but find ways to indicate typical features of spoken language. You may use some special signs from Conversation Analysis but you are not expected to become a specialist. Comment on its linguistic, paralinguistic (if appropriate), pragmatics and discourse-level features, and on the implications of your findings for the practice and/or theory of language teaching and also whether/how you would utilise such material in your language teaching. See Carter & McCarthy (1997) for further information and guidance.

Please indicate the chosen task on your assignment and add an appropriate title that reflects the specific topic of your interest. Make sure your discussions are built on a smaller scope than the module topics but are of more essence and depth. Make sure that you exemplify your points with linguistic examples.

Assessment Requirements Brief Summary

The assessment is a Coursework Essay in Linguistics and Language Teaching, requiring students to produce a 2,000–2,500 word essay on a linguistic topic of their choice. The essay must focus on an area different from any previous presentation and demonstrate critical analysis, linguistic knowledge, and practical implications for language teaching.

Students are asked to choose one of the following tasks:

1. Linguistic Comparison Compare a specific area of English linguistics with another language, discussing similarities, differences, and implications for language learners or teaching.
2. Linguistics in the Classroom Analyse a specific classroom incident and discuss how linguistic knowledge could improve teaching practice.
3. Analysing Communication Record, transcribe, and analyse natural conversation data, commenting on linguistic, paralinguistic, pragmatic, and discourse features, and discuss implications for language teaching.

Key Pointers to Cover:

• Clear identification of the chosen task and appropriate title
• In-depth exploration of a manageable linguistic topic
• Use of examples to support arguments
• Critical analysis of theory, data, or classroom incidents
• Discussion of implications for language learning and teaching

Approach Taken by Academic Mentor

The academic mentor guided the student through the assessment with a step-by-step process, ensuring all requirements were addressed:

1. Understanding the Assignment Brief

   • The mentor explained the essay’s purpose: to demonstrate knowledge of linguistics, analytical skills, and the ability to apply theory to practical language teaching contexts.
   • Students were reminded to choose a topic distinct from their prior presentation.

2. Choosing the Task and Topic

   • The mentor discussed the three options and helped the student identify a task aligning with their interest and strengths.
   • Guidance was given to narrow down the topic to a specific, manageable area to allow for depth of analysis and the use of original examples.

3. Structuring the Essay

   • For Linguistic Comparison, the mentor advised a structure:
     1. Introduction and context
     2. Comparison of linguistic features
     3. Analysis of similarities and differences
     4. Implications for L2 learners or teaching
     5. Conclusion
   • For Linguistics in the Classroom, guidance included:
     1. Description of specific incidents
     2. Analysis of linguistic relevance
     3. Discussion of teaching implications
   • For Analysing Communication, steps included:
     1. Choosing conversation data
     2. Manual transcription
     3. Analysis of linguistic and pragmatic features
     4. Implications for teaching practice

4. Research and Evidence Collection

   • The mentor helped identify relevant literature, linguistic theories, and classroom or conversational examples.
   • Emphasis was placed on using credible sources and integrating examples that support arguments.

5. Writing and Feedback Integration

   • Drafts were reviewed for clarity, depth, and coherence.
   • Feedback focused on refining analysis, linking theory to examples, and ensuring the essay remained focused on the chosen topic.

Outcome Achieved

• Structured Coursework Essay: The essay had a clear title, focused scope, and logical flow aligned with the chosen task.

• Critical Analysis: The student demonstrated the ability to analyse linguistic data, classroom incidents, or cross-linguistic features critically.

• Application to Language Teaching: Insights were drawn regarding implications for L2 teaching, showing the practical relevance of linguistic knowledge.

• Learning Objectives Covered:
  • Advanced understanding of a specific linguistic topic
  • Critical thinking and analysis
  • Practical application of linguistic theory to teaching
  • Research and referencing skills
  • Academic writing and structured argumentation

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