This proseminar is intended as an introduction to doing applied linguistic research. At the end of the proseminar, students will be able to:Discuss core concepts of social constructionismExplain how facticity is constructed through languageDescribe with the use of tools from applied linguistics the construction of crisesDesign, carry out, and report on their own research project in applied linguistics

Input through lectures by lecturerPractical application of theoretical learnings in group data sessionsPractical application of theoretical learnings to students’ own projects in blended-learning sessions, which will be documented in a journal throughout the semesterStudents’ presentations of their own projectsStudents’ reports of their progress and findings in a portfolio

The course „Topics in Applied Linguistics: The language of crises” will explore how crises are constructed in and through language use. More specifically, we will discussThe construction of (social) reality and facticity;Crises of personal, social and global nature;The designing and carrying out a research project: formulating research; questions, collecting data, and choosing an appropriate methodology; Methodological concepts from discourse studies (e.g., from critical linguistics and critical discursive psychology); Analyzing data; and Writing up research findings. In the course, we will come up with a definition(s) of what “crises” are based on how we as individuals and as members of social groups talk about them; for this purpose, we will go through designing and carrying out a (small) research project in applied linguistics, documenting every step. We will examine different types of texts (e.g., social media posts, songs, essays, newspapers articles, etc.) both in group (data sessions) and in individual projects (blended learning sessions, presentations, and portfolio). We will compile all of our findings on Moodle and will discuss them in a wrap-up session at the end of the semester. As a group, we will have evinced (possibly) recurring linguistic resources which are used to transform objective events into personal (e.g., career planning, family conflicts), social (e.g., #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter), and/or global (e.g., climate change, wars) crises. 

In accordance with the Department of English’s curricula, students should have completed Introduction to Linguistics I and Introduction to Linguistics II. Moreover, the completion of the course Professional Writing Skills is an advantage. 

Relevant literature and/or the tools for the gathering of literature will be provided in class.

Students will be expected to actively participate in class and to contribute on Moodle. They will conduct a small research project and present their results in class. They will document and reflect on their learning and research process in a journal each week. This journal, along with other materials students will have collected throughout the course, will constitute the portfolio students will be invited to submit at the end of the semester in lieu of a proseminar paper. 

Students’ performance will be evaluated based on their research project.

Active participation in class and regular attendanceRegular updates of journalPresentation of project resultsSubmission of portfolio ( = proseminar paper)