Overview
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, group tutorials, and student-led seminars. Teaching sessions may include discussions, film screenings, or work in computer labs. You will be expected to complete reading and research in advance and participate in discussions with your tutor and fellow students. All students are supported by a personal tutor and have access to specialist guidance on writing and study skills. Individual tutorials with module tutors are available during weekly office hours, where you can discuss any aspect of your course or receive help with assignments.
In the first year, you will expand your knowledge of key elements in general linguistics, such as phonetics, morphology, and syntax, as well as the history and development of English as a global language. The second year broadens your understanding of language domains and the distinction between pure and applied linguistics. In the third year, you will pursue your own interests within the taught modules and your dissertation—a substantial independent project on a linguistic topic of your choice.
You will experience varied forms of assessment, including essays, presentations, podcasts, blogs, class tests, fieldwork, simulation exercises, peer evaluations, creative work, and a dissertation. This range of assessments will enable you to develop a wide range of communication and technological skills, along with the ability to think critically, independently, flexibly, and creatively.
You will have Mandarin language classes throughout the year as this continuous approach is recognised as the best way to learn a language. For the Mandarin language modules, assessment is focused on evaluating your competence in the four key skills of reading, writing, speaking, and hearing and knowledge of the cultural, social, and historical context.
Contact hours
You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, workshops, group work and self-directed study. You will normally attend around 8-10 hours of timetabled taught sessions (lectures, seminars, and tutorials) each week, and we expect you to undertake at least 30 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.