Wednesday, 13 February 2013

Introduction to Applied Linguistics Blog


Welcome to the Applied Linguistics blog of the MA II English II year students of DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh, India. The blog will deal with some basic concepts of Applied Linguistics as per the Panjab University syllabus for Semester IV.

However, every one is welcome to contribute to the topics specified. You can also suggest newer developments for wider discussion.

Objectives :

The main objective of this course is to introduce students to the important theories and approaches in language learning/teaching, especially in the context of second language acquisition. The course has been so designed as to bridge the gap between the theory and practice. Consequently, the focus of this course shall also be on helping a student develop empirical understanding of the problems involved in Bilingualism, especially in Indian context. Apart from this, the students shall be given some understanding of the testing methods, devised exclusively for Indian classrooms.

Prescribed Content :  

Unit-1 : Main theories of language learning and their influence on teaching - monitor model, universal grammar, acculturation and interlanguage.

Unit-2 : Approaches and methods in language teaching: Grammar-translation, Audio-lingual, Direct and Bilingual. CLT and the communicative approach, Brief historical overview of ELT.

Unit-3 : Approaches to teaching LSRW, vocabulary, grammar, literature and pronunciation. ELT in India: growth and problematic.

Unit-4 : Testing: Principles, Washback effect and types of tests. Designing tests for the Indian classroom.


Suggested Readings :  
1. Tickoo, M.L. Teaching and Learning English, Orient Black Swan, New Delhi, 2003
2. Howatt,  A.P.R. and  Widdowson,  H.G.,  A History of English Language Teaching,  Oxford University Press, China, 2004.
3. Larsen-Freeman, Diane  ,Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching , Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 2008.
4. Richards, Jack C. and Rodgers, Theodore S.,   Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching, Cambridge University Press, U.K., 2005.
5. Krishnaswamy, N. and Krishnaswamy, L., The Story of English in India, Foundation Books, New Delhi, 2006.
6. Hughes, Arthur, Testing for Language Teachers , Cambridge University Press, U.K., 2003.