Topics in Chinese Applied Linguistics

Postgraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

The course takes up some selected topics in the broad area of applied linguistics with aims to give students a sound understanding of the central concerns in the field, promote critical and reflective thinking in language-related real-life problems, and develop students' expertise in applying its analytical perspectives to solve Chinese language problems. Students will be trained to collect, evaluate and use relevant information, theory and methodologies to address various tasks and issues within the applied linguistics field.

This is a specialised course which provides students with the necessary analytical tools and reasoning skills to examine practical issues related to Chinese language. The themes to be covered in the course include second language pedagogy, acquisition and assessment, discourse and textual analysis, psycholinguistic and sociolinguistics. The contents of the course may vary on a semester-to-semester basis.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course :

Knowledge

The student

- will have developed his/her general knowledge of the discipline

- will have acquired specialised knowledge of the topics treated in the course

- will have become familiar with recent research in the field treated in the course

Skills

The student

- will be able to use analytical and reasoning skills to discuss topics on Chinese language teaching, learning and uses on an analytical basis, taking both critical and theoretical perspectives into account

- will be able to organize a group discussion concerning an academic topic within particular theoretical frameworks

General competence

The student

- will be able to understand and analyse specific problems arising in language classroom, workplace and/or other related domains

- will have developed further his/her ability to express academic ideas, both in writing and orally

ECTS Credits

15

Level of Study

Master

Semester of Instruction

Autumn

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
Bachelor degree with specialisation in Chinese language, Sinology, or the equivalent. Proficiency in Chinese language is necessary to understand the Chinese data for analysis.
Recommended Previous Knowledge
None
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
None
Access to the Course
The course is open to students enrolled in the Master programme in Chinese Studies at the University of Bergen.
Teaching and learning methods

The main teaching methods are lectures and seminars (and occasional guest lectures): altogether 12 weeks, 24 hours. The main learning activities may include participation in discussion, student-led discussion, group assignment, peer review, oral presentation.

The course is mainly taught in English, with considerable analytical examples and texts in Chinese. In the lectures, selected topics in applied linguistics are discussed. The main teaching activities include review of literature, key concepts and perspectives in the subject, dissemination of the subject history and knowledge base and how this has been developed. Dialogues will be facilitated with the students about the subject contents relevant to concrete issues in work and society. The lectures will primarily be delivered in physical form. In addition, guest lectures might be arranged on selected topics, and in such cases, digital lectures will be conducted using Zoom (or similar digital solutions) as the main platform.

During the learning process, apart from attending the lectures, students need to participate in class discussion, lead group discussion, collaborate in data collection and analysis, give presentations, provide peer reviews to assignments, and exercise writing. Particularly in the seminars, students are expected to actively work in groups with different case assignments, and for certain topics, student-led discussions are conducted.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Students have to attend at least 75% of the classes and pass two compulsory written assignments in order to qualify for the final exam.

Compulsory assignments are valid for one semester following the semester of instructions, and all compulsory assignments must be completed in the same semester.

Forms of Assessment

Course assessment consists of a seven-day home-based digital exam on topics specified by the course instructor. The students are required to answer questions or analyze authentic texts, utilizing the relevant knowledge and/or analytical methods.

The submitted answers are approximately 4,000 words in total (±10%) (excluding the bibliography, appended data).

There is no right for collaboration between students or to ask academic questions to the subject teacher when the exam has started. The exam starts from the time the exam assignments are available to the candidates

Grading Scale
The Department uses a grading scale ranging from A to F. F is a failing grade.
Assessment Semester
The exam for KIN301 is offered at the end of the Autumn semester. The re-take exam is in the middle of the Spring semester for students with valid compulsory assignments.
Reading List

The reading list is composed of textbooks on applied linguistics. In addition to that, the students are encouraged to use recommended further reading and guidebooks.

The reading list will be available by 1 June for the Autumn semester.

Course Evaluation
The course is evaluated in accordance with the quality control system of the University of Bergen.
Examination Support Material
All aids are allowed during the exam.
Programme Committee
The Programme Board is responsible for the academic content and structure of the study programme, and for the quality of all the subjects therein.
Course Coordinator
The Programme Board for Chinese Studies
Course Administrator
The Department of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Humanities has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study programme.