Master in Applied Linguistics

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The Master in Applied Linguistics is a programme of advanced academic enquiry that offers courses to suitably qualified candidates. The courses offered range from mainstream, linguistic courses that delve in theories, to those that are related to pedagogical concerns. The structure of the programme is flexible enough to appeal to the theoretically and practically oriented, as well as to the experienced and inexperienced students. At the end of the learning process, the students will have a linguistically attuned approach to looking at language and language classroom.

Courses

Students have to complete at least 40 credit hours with a CGPA of at least 3.00. The programme structure is as follows: 

CORE COURSES (16 CREDIT HOURS) 

SCLE5124
Modern English Linguistics
This course is designed to help students understand the linguistic structure of English and to understand what functions these structures perform. The topics cover includes the sound patterns of English language, the structure of words and sentences, the analysis of semantic and pragmatic meanings. By studying these areas of enquiries, students will be equipped with skills in analysing English texts and conversations.

SCLE5144
Second Language Acquisition
The course aims to introduce students to current research and key theoretical issues in SLA and familiarize them with prominent research trends in the study of language learner, the process of language acquisition, and the interaction between the learner, language and context. The course primarily focuses on theoretical and empirical works bearing on SLA from different perspectives, such as linguistic, social and cognitive approaches. Pedagogical implications of SLA will also be discussed.

SCLE5154
Methods of Teaching English
The course introduces an understanding of the principles and practices of teaching English as a second or foreign language. It reviews the past trends as well as the current methods of language teaching. It examines and evaluates each approach and method in terms of its theory of language and language learning, goals, syllabus, teacher and learner roles, materials, teaching activities and techniques used in the classroom.

SZRZ6014
Research Methodology
The course will provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to develop and carry out a research. In particular, the course aims at teaching students about research design, strategies, methods, and process. The important steps in planning a research project, such as problem identification and formulation of the research question, developing the study objective, reviewing related literature and formulating a model will also be covered. Additionally, methods for data collection and analysis are included. The course also discusses the preparations involved in writing a research proposal.

ELECTIVE COURSES (18 CREDIT HOURS)
Choose any six (6) courses from the list below:

SCLE5013
Materials Selection and Development
The course aims to provide students with an understanding of the process of selecting and developing suitable materials for ESL/EFL learners. It will provide the students with the principles and frameworks that will guide them in creating, evaluating, adapting and selecting ESL/EFL instructional materials suitable for particular contexts. Current issues related to the selection and development of ESL/EFL materials will also be discussed.

SCLE5043
Teaching English Through Literature
This course is designed to help students explore different approaches to using literature with English language learners at all levels. Literary texts of different genres will be studied for their literary value with an eye to identify some of their distinctive features which can be successfully exploited in the classroom. Coupled with some clear criteria for selecting and evaluating materials for classroom use, students will explore a wide range of practical ideas and activities for developing classroom materials which can be used in a way that is relevant to language learners at various levels.

SCLE5053
Pedagogical Grammar
The course will focus on grammatical concepts, research and practice in a pedagogical context. Issues that will be considered include how to provide ‘knowledge about’ grammatical items and how to ‘activate’ that knowledge (into ‘knowledge how to’). The course will also explore issues on whether grammar is best taught explicitly, or should simply be acquired. Approaches to grammatical error correction and grammatical difficulties of ESL learners will also be considered. Evaluation and critique of selected pedagogic grammar materials for the development of grammar skills will also be discussed.

SCLE5113
Phonetics and Phonology
This course provides an understanding of the articulatory and acoustic bases for the description and classification of speech sounds. The course examines the basics of phonology namely the distribution of speech sounds, phonological relationships, analysis, and rules. Besides discussions and presentations in class, students will be exposed to practical work such as phonetic transcription, speech analysis and its pedagogical implications.

SCLE5133
Morphology and Syntax
The course aims to provide students with an understanding of the nature of English morphological patterns and the rules related to English syntax. Students will analyse the underlying rules governing word formation and grammatical structures. Students will also be required to conduct group presentations where they have to apply their knowledge in the fields of morphology and syntax. Practical exercises are also given to enable students to apply the rules of word formation and analyse grammatical structures in the form of structural drawing. The highlight of the course will be a written portfolio, an ongoing assignment, in which students will write about their understanding and learning processes of each component of the lesson as they go through it, incorporating their responses and experiences in the process.

SCLE5163
Language Assessment
The course provides an opportunity for students to develop expertise in language assessment. It will begin by exploring the theoretical issues of assessment. Next, students will examine the principles and purposes of testing, different test types, and their implications for teaching and learning. Students will also be introduced to statistical methods for analysing language testing data. In-depth issues and concerns related to current developments in second language assessment will also be addressed.

SCLE5213
Semantics
This course examines the concept of “semantics” and its application in a variety of communicative modes. It begins with a conceptual definition of the notion and its related terms. It also examines a list of relevant terms in the subfield. From this list, familiar terms associated with the discourse are discussed. Cases of real-life situations are explored to facilitate students’ understanding of semantics in society at large.

SCLE5223
Psycholinguistics
This course focuses on the psychological aspects of human language, including bilingualism, language acquisition, and verbal concept formation. It also introduces students to high level language processing that deals with word recognition, sentence and discourse processing. The course will foreground into the complexity of both human language and the problems involved in studying it. Students will also evaluate and apply theoretical aspects of psycholinguistics to language learning and usage.

SCLE5233
Sociolinguistics
The course broadens students’ knowledge of the study of language and society. It covers among others, the complexities of speech communities and language varieties, social class, ethnicity, gender, social interactional approaches to language study, and language planning. This will allow students to investigate the ways in which language works in the social context. Using references to research findings, students are exposed to issues relating to language use in its social context (e.g. social issues such as language policy and multilingualism, and social conflicts such as sexism and racism) and the implications of the issues for language use and communication.

SCLE5243
Discourse Analysis
This course deals with spoken and written languages in their social contexts. It examines how stretches of language considered in their full textual, social and psychological contexts become meaningful and are reproduced for their users. The course focuses on the relevant theories and concepts and demonstrates how they can be applied to various classroom and real life situations in order to improve students’ skills in examining discourse. Accordingly, this class is as much a theory class as it is a participatory class. Students are expected to come prepared and participate fully in class.

PROJECT PAPER (6 CREDIT HOURS)

SCLZ6996
Project Paper
The Master’s Project Paper is scheduled for the final semester, and consequently viewed as the final course of the Master’s programme. The project paper provides an opportunity for students to conduct a research on their subjects of interest. The aim of this course is to provide proper guidance to help students to conduct and produce their research reports. In the process of completing his/her project paper, a student is required to discuss with his/her supervisor. Project supervision is conducted individually and takes the form of supervisory meetings.

Others Information

No.

Name of Students

Country

Title of Thesis/Dissertation

Level of Study

Name of Supervisor/s

1.

Muhamad Zulfadli bin Omar

 

Malaysia

The Roles of Vocabulary Size and Self-Efficacy in Reading Comprehension Performance among Malaysian Pre-University Students

2021

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd. Hilmi Hamzah

Rohaiza Jupri

2.

Ahmed Elsayed Samir Madbouly

Egypt

The production of the English stop voicing contrast by Arab L2 speakers of English: The role of voice onset time

2019

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Hilmi Hamzah

 

3.

Rohaidah Binti Shari

Senior Lecturer

Kedah Matriculation College

 

Malaysia

Language Learning Strategies among ESL Learners in a Matriculation College

2018

Dr. Norma Saad

4.

Amdlla Omar Mohammed Farhat

Teaching Assistant at

University of Sebha,

Sabha, Libya

Libya

 

The Effects of Proficiency Level and Gender on the Use of Oral Communication Strategies among Arab Students

2018

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Jamilah Bidin

Dr. Norma Saad

5.

Sc. Sangaran a/l Chinnian

Malaysia

A Study on the Extend of Nativisation of the Native Lexical Items in English in the English Textbooks of KSSR Syllabus in Malaysian Secondary schools

2016

Assoc. Prof. Dr.Hariharan a/l Krishnasamy

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Affendi Shabdin

6.

Subaanthi a/p K. Kanagaratnam

Malaysia

Reading Strategies Used by Fifth Formers in a Secondary School in Sungai Petani when Reading Expository Texts

2016

Assoc. Prof. Dr.Hariharan a/l Krishnasamy

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Affendi Shabdin

7.

Shri Nirosha a/p Surianarayanan

Malaysia

Readiness in Reading the English Literature Component (Novel) among Secondary School Students

2016

Assoc. Prof. Dr.Hariharan a/l Krishnasamy

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Affendi Shabdin

8.

Azlina binti Akbar Ali

Malaysia

The Effectiveness of Using Information GAP in Improving Speaking Skills Among Malaysian Primary School Students

2016

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Affendi Shabdin

Assoc. Prof. Dr.Hariharan a/l Krishnasamy

9.

Che Fatimah binti Abdul Rahim

Malaysia

The Effect of Role Play on Speaking Skill Among Year 5 Primary School Students

2016

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Affendi Shabdin

Assoc. Prof. Dr.Hariharan a/l Krishnasamy

10.

Maimunah binti Mohamed

Malaysia

Exploring The Use of Short Stories In Teaching Narrative Writing Among The Primary School Students

2016

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Affendi Shabdin

Assoc. Prof. Dr.Hariharan a/l Krishnasamy

11.

Mazliza binti Mohamed

Malaysia

Exploring the Use of Short Stories in Teaching Narrative Writing among Primary School Students

2016

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Affendi Shabdin

Assoc. Prof. Dr.Hariharan a/l Krishnasamy

12.

Noorzarina Ismail

Malaysia

Enhancing Vocabulary Knowledge Using Songs among Malaysian Primary School Students: Its Effectiveness and Students’ Preferences.

2016

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Affendi Shabdin

Assoc. Prof. Dr.Hariharan a/l Krishnasamy

13.

Mohammad Ado Ahmed

Head of Department Department of English and Literary Studies

Bauchi State University, Gadau, Nigeria.

Nigeria

 

Morphological Processes and Grammatical Structures in the Nouns and Nominal System of the Iguta Language

 

2014

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Jamilah Bidin

14.

Yusuf Nuhu Inuwa

Nigeria

Functions of Hausa-English code switching: A sociolinguistic investigation

 

2014

Dr. Anne Althea Christopher

Haryati Bakrin