UMass Boston :: College of Liberal Arts :: Applied Linguistics Graduate Courses

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APLING 601 Linguistics
This course examines the nature and origin of language, the history of linguistics, and new theoretical developments in the field. Principles of language analysis phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics are discussed. The course systematically compares the structure of English with a variety of other languages.

APLING 603 Cross Cultural Perspectives
This course is designed to help students develop perceptions of cultural similarities and differences from knowledge of concepts and meanings of culture. Special emphasis will be given to issues of linguistic and cultural discontinuities, the acculturation process, minority education, and interethnic communication. Discussions and research will be directed toward developing multicultural educational programs and activities.

APLING 605 Theories and Principles of Language Teaching
This course is designed to present students with a theoretical background in the principles and methods of teaching English as a second language. It presents concepts from the fields of linguistics, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and education as they relate to language teaching theory. In addition to these influences on the field of ESL, the course will include a survey of major methodological approaches to ESL teaching in order to evaluate how well theory has been applied to practice.

APLING 611 Methods and Materials in Foreign Language Instruction
This course seeks (1) to relate methods of teaching a foreign language to current Second Language Acquisition (SLA), research and theory and evaluate these methods; (2) to discuss classroom problems in light of current SLA theory; (3) to look critically at textbooks and create new, specific course material to be tested and shared among all class participants. The course's hands on approach bridges the gap between theoreticians and classroom practitioners: Students are encouraged through reading, discussion, teaching demonstrations, and classroom observations to explore and define the language teacher's role and to question their experience as language learners and teachers.

APLING 612 Integrating Culture into the Language Curriculum
This course takes a hands-on approach and bridges the gap between theoreticians and classroom practitioners. Participants can tie in their critical understanding of cross-cultural perspectives into numerous aspects of the language curriculum. They explore how culture has been taught traditionally and how cultural values are embodied in authentic documents. They gain awareness of potential cultural conflicts between their own culture and the culture they teach or their students’ culture. Discussion and research are directed towards developing instructional units based on a large variety of authentic documents that reflect multicultural diversity and help students discover and resolve cultural conflicts. Prerequisite: Apling 603.

APLING 614 Foundations of Bilingual/Multicultural Education
This course is designed to expose students to issues pertaining to the historical, philosophical, legal, and theoretical foundations of bilingualism, bilingual & multicultural education. Through the study of the relevant literature, students will develop a theoretical/philosophical framework that will enable them to better understand the politics of diversity and multiculturalism and their implications for education in the United States and across the globe.

APLING 615 Methods and Materials in Bilingual Education
This course will examine major contemporary theories of learning in bilingual education. The course will focus on instructional improvement strategies and objectives and procedures of evaluation as they relate to the developmental needs of elementary and secondary bilingual students. Course participants will acquire an understanding of the process of developing culturally embedded teaching materials in the areas of art, music, social science, and language arts.

APLING 616 Curriculum Development in Bilingual Education
This course will offer an analysis of the major components of curriculum study including practices, innovations, positions and theories as applied to bilingual education.

APLING 618 Teaching ESL: Methods and Approaches
This course will familiarize students with methods of language teaching, such as audiolingualism, cognitive code and notional functionalism, and the more specific methodological models that represent extensions and adaptations of these differing perspectives. In addition, approaches to teaching English language skills and techniques that transcend skill areas will be studied and evaluated.

APLING 621 Psycholinguistics
Contemporary issues in the fields of first and second language development and bilingualism will be addressed within the framework of the psychological development of the individual, from early childhood through adolescence. Theories of learning will also be addressed, particularly as they have been used to explain language development, including behaviorism, cognitive psychology, Piagetian constructivist theory, Vygotsky’s Social Interactionism and Freirean critical consciousness and praxis.

APLING 623 Sociolinguistics
This course will focus on the study of language variation, and its social, political and cultural significance. Students will evaluate current sociolinguistic theory and research and will conduct mini-projects of their own. Topics of study will include language attitudes, language identity and language and power.

APLING 624 Language and the Media: Semiotics , Representations, and Discursive Formation
This course is designed to introduce the student to the history and current research in the study of symbols, signs and images (visual language) that function in the various media of popular culture as a formative means of communication. The course will explore the production and exchange of meanings and circulating signifying systems by introducing the student to important schools of thought in this area of analysis. We will analyze the language/symbolic orders used in news media, comedy, television advertising, children’s cartoons, music video, situation comedies, soap operas, magazine photos, music lyrics, museum exhibits and history as text. In exploring how formative systems of representation set the rules, norms and conventions by which social life is ordered and governed, this course will offer curricular insights for the language/multicultural classroom by presenting a more cultural studies approach to formal pedagogy.

APLING 625 Second Language Acquisition
Exploring the acquisition of representative language forms or language functions by second language speakers, this course draws on contrastive linguistics for patterns of systematic variation among languages, or continua along which languages vary; and draws on empirical second language research for regularities in learners’ performance that reveal how their individual, internal representations of the target language systematically change with meaningful exposure to that language.

APLING 626 Structured English Instruction
This course is designed to equip teachers and prospective teachers with the theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to effectively organize and implement language and literacy instruction for English language learners (ELLs). In this course, we will explore the pedagogical and legislative history of linguistic minority and English as a second language education in the United States. However, the focus will be on instructional approaches utilized in Structured Sheltered English Immersion classroom settings. Students will be challenged to develop instructional plans that simultaneously teach ESL, content area knowledge, and metacognitive learning strategies to ELL's. The course content will be taught/learned through the kinds of experiential, participatory, and process-oriented strategies that are used in successful English language development classrooms.

APLING 627 Phonetics and Phonemics
This course will cover the sound system of English and the principles of phonetics and phonemics as well as provide an introduction to phonology. Students will practice using this knowledge to do error analysis and to teach aural/oral skills.

APLING 629 The Structure of the English Language
This course covers ways of describing the structure of English, starting with traditional methods used in many textbooks and finishing with alternative methods. It will discuss teaching methodologies and sociolinguistic considerations, and provide opportunities for practice in applying these theories and techniques.

APLING 633 Discourse Analysis in ESL
This course will deal with approaches to discourse analysis, which will be defined as a set of procedures for interpreting utterances in context. The course will examine different descriptive models from the discipline of linguistics, sociology and anthropology and apply them to a variety of texts and contexts. We will concentrate on face-to-face oral interaction, but some aspects of written or "planned" texts will also be discussed. The models of discourse analysis will be applied to the areas of everyday conversation, classroom interaction and native-non-native interaction in interviews, classrooms, and everyday conversation.

APLING 635 Literacy & Culture
This course takes a sociolinguistics and anthropological approach to the analysis of discourse. It seeks to explicate both the nature of literacy practice in the academic context. The course addresses the distinction between “oral style” and “literate style” communication strategies. Participants look at so-called “oral cultures” and at those cultures influenced by writing, as well as at cross-cultural differences in orientation toward speech communication, language acquisition, and literacy. Emphasis is given to the analysis of “non-literary” texts, which may include interactions between teachers and young children during “show and tell,” and between writing instructor and student writers during writing conferences; narratives told in Black English Vernacular; and written texts produced by student writers from various non-mainstream backgrounds.

APLING 637 Ethnography of Language, Culture and Learning
This course addresses the how and why of ethnographic inquiry. It introduces students to ethnographic approaches and research methodologies and most importantly, to the kinds of questions demographers ask. Participants read and critically assess a wide variety of ethnographic research which addresses issues in language, learning, and the enculturation process. They also implement ethnographic approaches and insights in developing and conducting their own qualitative research. As a final project, students are required to write a project proposal for ethnographic research.

APLING 644 Cape Verdean Linguistics
This course will acquaint students with the dialectal varieties of the Cape Verdean language from the various islands of Cape Verde. Special attention will be given to the historical, cultural, and sociopolitical factors that have played a role in the pidginization and creolization of Cape Verdean. In the course students will conduct a contrastive analysis of Cape Verdean with English.

APLING 645 Franco-American Linguistics
This course will acquaint students with the similarities and differences in the linguistic structures of Franco-American and universal French. The focus of the course will be on the regional and social variations in the linguistic structures of Franco-American speech, and on the discrimination between levels of language acceptability in Franco-American speech.

APLING 646 Haitian Linguistics
This course provides a contrastive analysis of Haitian to French and English. Haitian phonology, syntax, semantics and morphology will be contrasted with French and English features. Consideration will also be given to problems in bilingualism /biliteracy for Haitian students as well as to the issue of language planning and policy making in the educational setting.

APLING 647 Portuguese Linguistics
This course will provide a linguistic analysis of the phonology, morphology, and syntax of Portuguese, as well as a systematic comparison of its structures with those of English. The course will focus on issues related to the acquisition of English by Portuguese speakers.

APLING 648 Cape Verdean Culture
This course provides an overview of the social political, religious, and ethnic aspects of Cape Verdean culture. Myths, legends, folktales, poetry and riddles will be analyzed, along with culture shock caused by the conflict of cultures encountered by the Cape Verdean immigrant to the United States. Course assignments will help students better understand the educational needs of Cape Verdean students in the process of acquiring English.

APLING 649 Franco-American Culture
This course will introduce students to Franco-American culture in New England and Louisiana through a study of the history, folklore, language, literature, art and music of Franco-Americans. There will be special emphasis on social, political, religious, economic, and historical events which have contributed to the reality of the Franco-American of today.

APLING 650 Haitian Culture
This course will examine Haitian culture as revealed through its historical, economic, social, political, religious, and ethnic institutions. The course will focus on both oral and written literate traditions in Haiti. The educational needs of Haitian students in the United States will be a major focus of the course.

APLING 651 Portuguese Culture
This course will examine Portuguese culture as evidenced through its historical, social, economic, religious, and ethnic institutions. Various cultural traditions such as myths, legends, folktales, poetry and riddles will be analyzed, along with the Portuguese immigrant's experience of culture shock in the United States.

APLING 652 Asian Cultures
This course will introduce students to the peoples and cultures of Asia in the context of their shared history and parallel contemporary development. It will focus on themes that resonate throughout the area: the early influences of China and India, traditional socio-political and religious organization, European colonization, and economic development and modernization. Discussion and assignments are designed to address these issues, as they are relevant to teachers and others who work with Asians.

APLING 653 Asian Linguistics
This course will acquaint students with the languages of Asia including Chinese, and their geographical distribution, historical relationships, and common structural characteristics. The course will provide students with the conceptual tools to better understand and articulate the similarities and differences faced by Asians learning English. The ability to speak an Asian language, though helpful, is not required for this course.

APLING L669 Writing Theories in Second Language Instruction
This course will consider the key issues in writing theory, research and pedagogy as they are specifically related to writing in a second language. It will introduce students to the existing research and developing theories on the composing process and examine, critique, and evaluate current traditional theories and practices by exploring the ways in which theory and research can be translated into instruction.

APLING 670 Testing in the Bilingual/ESL Classroom
Students will become familiar with language proficiency and language dominance testing and with other measurement and evaluative procedures needed in the administration and instruction of limited English proficient students in ESL and bilingual programs.

APLING 671 The Bilingual Child with Special Needs
Students in this course will become familiar with the various types of testing needed for bilingual special needs children. The course will survey existing tests in intelligence, academic achievement, and language development, as well as post-test remediation and therapy.

APLING L672 Theory and Practice in Adult ESL
This course is designed for those currently teaching or planning to teach in adult ESL programs. Participants will begin by examining adult learning theory and second language acquisition. We will then contrast several approaches to curriculum development including survival, competency based and participatory models. Implications for practice in adult literacy, vocational and workplace literacy and family literacy will be examined in light of these models. Issues arising from participants classroom practice will be incorporated throughout and projects may involve classroom-based curriculum development, materials design and research.

APLING L673 Teaching Reading in the Bilingual/ESL Classroom
Current reading theories are analyzed in reference to bilingual and ESL reading practices. Specific reading methodologies, materials and strategies are explored.

APLING 674 ESL Materials Development
This course surveys major methodological trends in curriculum and syllabus design, and provides an overview of ESL materials and an analysis of ESL texts. While engaged in extensive review of existing materials, students explore possibilities for adaptation, supplementation and the development of original materials for specific ESL populations.

APLING 678 Technology in Language Education
This course has three primary goals: (1) to help the students become computer literate; (2) to survey the various kinds of technological resources available for use in the ESL classroom; and (3) to critically evaluate the use of technology in the ESL classroom and the extent to which it is compatible with current theories of language acquisition.

APLING 680 The Computer in the Bilingual/ESL Classroom
This course will cover various applications of personal computers in the bilingual or ESL classroom and develop a Conversational Statistical Package for analyzing problems of the limited English proficient student.

APLING 681 Computer Assessment in the Bilingual/ESL Classroom
This course will equip students with the necessary computer skills to construct instruments to evaluate bilingual/ESL student competencies, design measures for placement, and construct exit tests in both the native language and English.

APLING 682 Bilingual/ESL Computer Assisted Instruction
This course will train students to develop programs for both the bilingual or ESL student in computer aided instruction; both in the native language and in English as a second language. An analysis of learning difficulties and appropriate computer instruction activities in reference to the bilingual or ESL student will be covered. Prerequisite: APLING 680.

APLING 683 Bilingual/ESL Computer Curriculum Development
Students will learn the role of computer processing in curriculum development and evaluating materials used in Bilingual/ESL programs. Using a microcomputer, students will develop and program appropriate teaching strategies at the elementary or secondary level for their bilingual or ESL curricula.

APLING 684 Bilingual/ESL Computer Research Methods
This course will examine the role of microcomputers in quantitative educational research. Topics include conceptualization of research problems, development of hypotheses, definition and measurement of the important variables, design of research strategies, analysis of data, interpretation and inference, and writing and implementing a research proposal in Bilingual or ESL education. Prerequisites: APLING 680 and APLING 681.

APLING 691 Research Seminar
Experimental seminars on special topics.

APLING 696 Independent Study
This course will provide opportunities for students to work independently in one of the following areas: Applied Linguistics, Psycholinguistics, Sociolinguistics, Second Language and Bilingual Methodology, and Cross-Cultural Studies. Students who wish to do an independent study should submit a study plan which should include: a brief description of their area of interest and an outline of the topic they plan to research in terms of content, time and the structure of their project. Students eligible to take an Independent study course should be at the end of their course work for their M.A. and have at least a 3.5 GPA. All research plans for an Independent Study should be approved by their advisor and the GPD.

APLING 697 Special Topics in Applied Linguistics
An advanced course, offering intensive study of selected topics in bilingual/ESL studies. Course content varies according to the topic, and will be announced prior to registration.

APLING 698 Practicum/Field Experience
A supervised, on-site experience in the teaching of bilingual education or ESL on an elementary or secondary level, or in a social or educational agency serving limited English proficient students. Students must meet with their academic advisor to discuss available practicum options. Students interested in licensure practicum must meet with the licensure specialist to discuss options. (Hours by arrangement, 3-6 Credits)