Graduate


These intensive courses could be taught from 1 to 2 weeks. Each lecture would last about 2 hours. These lectures are interactive and student-centered, and are based on PowerPoint. They are supplemented with handouts and relevant videos. 

Introduction to Linguistics (Advanced)

This course is suitable for first year MA students. The topics include the origins of language, animal and human language, the development of writing, words and word formation processes, phonetics and phonology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, discourse analysis, language and the brain, first language acquisition, second language acquisition and learning, language history and change, language and regional variation, language and social variation, and language and culture.

Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language (Advanced)

This course is meant for novice teachers of English.  It will provide a theoretical basis for teaching English as a second/foreign language with a discussion and analyses of various teaching methods. The course will also provide direct instruction and practice on the teaching of listening, reading, speaking, and writing. The topics covered are background issues in language learning, popular ELT methodologies, learners and learning contexts, mistakes and feedback, grouping students, educational technology, teaching grammar, teaching vocabulary, teaching pronunciation, teaching reading, teaching listening, teaching speaking, teaching writing, planning lessons, testing and evaluation, and learner autonomy.

Teaching Writing

This course is meant for both novice and experienced teachers of English and will provide an introduction to the theories of second language writing and their practical applications. The course includes overviews of writing theory, contrastive rhetoric, and writing behaviors of ESL/EFL students. Students will also receive hands-on training in designing a writing curriculum, day-to-day lesson planning, teaching writing as a process, responding to student writing, and error correction. After completing this course, students will develop a solid understanding of research into second/foreign language writing with emphasis on research conducted with Chinese students.  

Qualitative Research in Applied Linguistics (Seminar)

This seminar covers the main aspects of conducting qualitative research such as methods (triangulation, informant reliability, formal and informal interviewing, participant observation), data collection and analyses, and ethics and style in research reporting. The course will be useful for graduate students and practicing teachers embarking on their first qualitative research study in applied linguistics.

For each type of qualitative research, a published research study from applied linguistics will be used to illustrative the research “in action”.

Students will advised on how to avoid common mistakes and improve the quality of the research design. In order to give them hands-on experience, students will be encouraged to submit a brief proposal for discussion and evaluation.

This seminar has been designed to provide novice researchers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to begin their qualitative research projects.

For more information, please contact me at georgebraine@gmail.com