Course Descriptions

Courses with an asterisk (*) are not offered every year.

Ling 232 Language and Society (4)
General introduction to what languages are like, how they are used and how they vary, focusing on how language interacts with society and culture. Some questions that will be addressed include: Why doesn't everyone speak the same language? Do men and women talk differently? What is the relationship between endangered species and endangered languages? How does Language influence our thoughts or behaviors?

Ling 233 Language and Mind (4)
General introduction to what language are like, how they are used, and how they vary, focusing on how language is learned and produced. Some questions that will be addressed include: Is language innate? Is it unique to humans? How is language related to thought or to culture? How is language represented in the brain? How is language acquired in different cultures and different circumstances?

Ling 390 Introduction to Linguistics (4)
A general introduction to the study of linguistics, including a basic survey of phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics, brief overview of other topics such as language acquisition and language in social contexts, a brief sketch placing English in historical perspective, and a preliminary examination of principles in modern language study.

Ling 407, the Senior Seminar, seeks to draw together the major degree’s various strands and exploit the undergraduate’s knowledge and study to explore substantive issues in the field. Courses such as the following are recent examples of the topics covered, which will vary from year to year.

Functional Linguistics (Conrad, Spring 2012).The senior seminar in functional linguistics fulfills two purposes. The first purpose is to introduce you to a theory of language called Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). Unlike the best known linguistic theories in the U.S., SFL gives primary emphasis to meaning and function, and to the way people use language in daily contexts. You will learn to understand the theory conceptually, use theoretically sound principles to analyze language excerpts, and read studies that employ SFL analyses. We will focus primarily on grammatical aspects of SFL, but you can explore other areas (such as intonation) in some assignments if you choose to. Second, as a senior seminar, this course serves as a culminating experience for the B.A. in Applied Linguistics. You will consider your B.A. courses in the context of the larger field of applied linguistics and with regard to your future plans. You will design or revise a resume or CV and draft a potential cover letter to accompany it. You will further hone your spoken and written communication skills.

Acquisition of the Lexicon (Santelmann, Winter 2012) This course explores how children and adults learn the vocabulary of a language. It will cover acquisition of a first language lexicon in early childhood and during the school years, acquisition of the lexicon of a second language and/or bilingual lexicons. We will also discuss the importance of the lexicon in education, the psycholinguistics of lexical organization and lexical learning and the brain. Students will be responsible for helping determine the direction and content of much of the course, and will be required to lead, as part of a group, at least one lesson. We will also spend some time reflecting on the Applied Linguistics B.A. program and on practical skills such as writing resumes, cover letters and letters of application for graduate school.

Critical Linguistic Methodology (Childs, Fall 2012). This course focuses on linguistic methodology in all of its phases from conception to dissemination, including the collection of data, its analysis, and the presentation of one’s findings. We will explore and elaborate each one of these components, examining the underlying assumptions and ideologies that guide linguistic method. This is a course in reflective and critical methodology and thus in linguistic theory itself: why and how to do linguistic fieldwork and how to evaluate the way in which it is done. The last part of the course will deal with the more practical side of your linguistics major, preparing for the next step.

Ling 409/509 Practica

Ling 409/509 Community ESL Practicum (variable). Design and implement between 13 and 16 two-hour lessons at an assigned location that address the needs of immigrants and/or refugees living in the greater Portland area. Examine strategies related to teaching this specific population at weekly meetings with an experienced ESL instructor and your peers. Be observed teaching your Community ESL class and receive feedback from the instructor as well as a practice teaching experience report for your methods teaching portfolio.
Prerequisite: Completion of an application and permission to enroll from the instructor.

Ling 409/509 Community activism (4) This is a hands-on, learn-by-doing class that focuses on building community and exploring how linguistically and culturally under-represented groups can work to get their voices heard in the dominant culture's system. Students have opportunities to bridge theory with practical real-world experience by working on fun, authentic, and relevant projects (often involving visual or performing arts) at various locations in the Portland community.

Note: You do not have to be an artist or musician in order to make contributions to the class and community partners. When working in a community, everyone has talents that can be used to make an important difference. If you are artistically minded or speak and additional language, this course will provide many opportunities for you to put those skills to practical use.

https://sites.google.com/a/pdx.edu/psu-community-esl-practicum-application-to-enroll/

Ling 411/511 Syntax (4)
Introduction to modern grammatical theory, its methods, and findings. Presents patterns of argumentation, models, and basic results of research.
Prerequisite: Ling 390 and one other course in linguistics.

Ling 412/512 Phonology (4)
How sounds pattern and how they are used in the world’s languages, how those patterns should be represented, and what theories have been advanced to explain those patterns. Some historical background to the sub-discipline and some training in linguistic analysis and argumentation.
Prerequisite: Ling 390. Recommended: Ling 415/515.

Ling 413/513 Linguistic Semantics (4)
Survey of linguistic approaches to meaning, including approaches from logic and philosophy of language. Addresses general questions of meaning, methods for studying meaning, and the relationship of semantic theory to theories of syntax and pragmatics.
Prerequisite: Ling 390. Recommended: Ling 411/511 or 492.

Ling 414/514 Linguistic Pragmatics (4)
A study of current theories of language use, particularly contextual and functional aspects of communication.
Prerequisite: Ling 390. Recommended: Ling 411/511 or 413/513.

Ling 415/515 Linguistic Phonetics (4)
Introduces the sounds of the world’s languages with a concentration on English. Practical exercises designed to develop skills in production, discrimination, and phonetic transcription. Applications to speech technology and speech pathology.
Prerequisite: Ling 390.

*Ling 416/516 Discourse Analysis (4)
The examination of forms and functions in discourse. Using several analytic procedures for understanding how conversation works, especially as applied to language learning and teaching.
Prerequisite: Ling 390.

Ling 417/517 Maintenance and Revitalization of Endangered Languages (4)
General introduction to endangered language revitalization, with a focus on native languages of the Pacific Northwest. Topics include history of attempts to eradicate native languages and the effects on those languages and their communities; theoretical basis for revitalization; emerging tribal policies; and relations between linguists and native communities.
Recommended prerequisites: Ling 390, NAS 301 or equivalent.

*Ling 420/520 Historical and Comparative Linguistics (4)
Study of language relationships and language change. Topics include the genetic classification of languages, language and prehistory, methods of historical reconstruction, and language contact.
Prerequisite: Ling 390. Recommended: Ling 412/512.

Ling 432/532 Sociolinguistics (4)
Examines the role of language in society and how social factors can influence language. The social issues around language including language policy and language ideology.
Prerequisite: Ling 390.

*Ling 433/533 Psycholinguistics (4)
A survey of psycholinguistics and the psychology of language, focusing on the general question of the relation between human language and human beings.
Prerequisite: Ling 390.

†*Ling 435/535 Applied Linguistics (4)
An examination of current areas of applied linguistics research.
Prerequisite: Ling 390.
†Ling 535 may not be counted toward MA TESOL degree.

Ling 437/537 First Language Acquisition (4)
Introduction to main aspects of first language acquisition in childhood, from infancy to the early school years. Examines comprehension and production of the structural and social aspects of language. Includes discussion of language acquisition theories from linguistic, psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic perspectives. Research project based on collection and analysis of child language data required.
Prerequisite: Ling 390.

Ling 438/538 Second Language Acquisition (4)
Introduction to main aspects of second language acquisition from sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic perspectives. Examines comprehension and production, stages in acquisition, cognitive processes, linguistic environment, individual variables, relationship between first and second language. Research project based on collection and analysis of language-learner language.
Prerequisite: Ling 390.

Ling 439/539 Language Assessment (4)
Theoretical background and practical considerations in the conduct of language assessment. Students will explore traditional, quantitative methods as well as alternative, qualitative methods for systematically gathering information to inform decisions about individual language ability.
Prerequisite: Ling 390; 477/577.

*Ling 445/545 Linguistics and Cognitive Science (4)
Presents current developments in linguistic theory, and in psychological theories of perception, cognition, and information processing (with special focus on language processing). Examines the fusion of linguistic and psychological theories into the rapidly growing field of cognitive science.
Prerequisite: Ling 390. Recommended: Ling 433/533.

Ling 470/570 Grammar for TESOL (4)
A study of how to teach difficult grammatical structures in English, how to resolve problems and questions that frequently arise in the ESL classroom, and how to adapt and supplement ESL grammar tests.
Prerequisites: Ling 390; 492 or departmental grammar test.

Ling 471/571 Understanding the International Experience (4)
Examination of communication-based dimensions of an international or intercultural experience, including teaching English to speakers of other languages. Development of strategies and activities required to meet the challenges of teaching, working, or doing research in an international/intercultural setting. All linguistics students must register for Ling 471/571, however, this course is also offered as Intl 471 and BSt 471. Course may be taken only once for credit.

*Ling 474/574 ESL in the Workplace (4)
Theory and practice in developing programs to teach English language programs in the workplace. Students observe workplace programs, examine case studies, and work in teams to assess needs, write curriculum, and develop materials for a local company employing non-native speakers.
Recommended prerequisite: Ling 477/577 or teaching experience.

Ling 475/575 Curriculum Design and Materials Development in TESOL (4)
Principles of curriculum design and instructional materials development in teaching English to speakers of other languages. Students work in teams to assess needs, design syllabus, develop lessons and materials, plan evaluation for English language program. Covers structural, notional and communicative, task-based, and content-based syllabus.
Prerequisite: Ling 390; Ling 477/577 or instructor’s approval. Recommended: Ling 478/578 or teaching experience.

Ling 476/576 Corpus Linguistics in Language Teaching (4)
Introduction to the methods of corpus linguistics, a type of computer-assisted linguistic analysis, applied to second/foreign language teaching and materials development. Includes weekly computer lab sessions conducting corpus linguistics work.
Prerequisite: Ling 390.

Ling 477/577 TESOL Methods I (4)
The first in a two-course sequence on classroom teaching. TESOL Methods I uses tutoring and classroom observation as a basis to study theoretical and practical perspectives on classroom teaching and learning. Significant out-of-class time for group work, tutoring, and classroom observation is required. After completing TESOL Methods I, Students will have completed a portion of the hours and assignments for their portfolio.
Prerequisites: Ling 471/571, 438/538

Ling 478/578 TESOL Methods II (4)
The second in a two-course sequence on classroom teaching. TESOL Methods II uses classroom observation and practice teaching as a basis to study theoretical and practical perspectives on classroom teaching and learning. Significant out-of-class time for group work, classroom observation and practice teaching is required. After Completing TESOL Methods II, students will have completed many of the hours and assignments needed for their portfolio.
Prerequisite: Ling 477/577.

*Ling 480/580 Bilingualism (4)
Survey of issues involved with bilingualism throughout the world. Explores the linguistic, sociolinguistic, and psycholinguistic aspects of simultaneous and subsequent acquisition of one or more languages. Includes perspectives of individual and societal bilingualism, and examines issues involved with bilingual language use, language processing, education, language planning, and language and identity.
Prerequisite: Ling 390.

*Ling 481/581 World Englishes (4)
Explores the role of English as a world language. Using film, audio tapes, and English language newspapers from around the world, students will become familiar with such Englishes as Malaysian English, Indian English, Nigerian English, and Filipino English.
Prerequisite: Ling 232 or 390.

*Ling 482/582 Pidgins and Creoles (4)
Introduces students to the language varieties arising in contact situations. Concentration on African and New World creoles (and African American Vernacular English). Considers the formation of pidgins and creoles in terms of both first and second language acquisition. Looks at the social factors involved in their creation.
Prerequisite: Ling 390.

†Ling 490/590 History of the English Language (4)
A survey in which the development of English phonology, morphology, vocabulary, and syntax is studied through the application of modern linguistic criteria and methodology.
Recommended prerequisite: Ling 390.
†Ling 590 may not be counted toward MA TESOL degree.

Ling 492 Structure of the English Language (4)
A study of English structure and modern approaches to grammar. This course satisfies state standards for teaching English.
Recommended prerequisite: Ling 390.

Ling 503 Thesis (Credit to be arranged.)

Ling 507 Empirical Research Writing (ERW) (4)
This course is required and designed for graduate students who have chosen the Project or Comps option as their Culminating Experience for the M.A. TESOL degree in the Department of Applied Linguistics. Students come to class with a basic literature review, research question(s), and a methodology sketch, all three of which will be expanded and revised in this course. The course’s purpose is to provide that set of people with experience in creating journal-quality research reporting based on the collection and analysis of empirical data. The course is intended to complement and supplement the student’s total graduate experience in the department.

Ling 559 Introduction to Graduate Study in Applied Linguistics (2)
Serves as an introduction to graduate study in applied linguistics with an emphasis on critical reading, writing, and research skills needed for success in the MA TESOL program.

Ling 560 Research Design for Applied Linguistics (2)
Presents the major designs for research in applied linguistics. Introduces basic quantitative and qualitative methodological concepts. Provides a basis to critically read research literature in TESOL and applied linguistics. Students write a preliminary review of the literature and research question(s) for a research proposal.
Prerequisite: admission to the MA TESOL program and at least 16 graduate credits in applied linguistics including Ling 559.

Ling 561 Research Methodology for Applied Linguistics (2)
Second course in a two-course sequence required for MA TESOL students, focusing on data collection and analysis. Builds upon introduction to methods in Ling 560. Students work with data, using both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Students write a preliminary draft of the methods section for their MA thesis proposal (those students writing a thesis) or for their research paper in LING 507 Empirical Research Writing (those students doing a project or taking the Comprehensive Exams).
Prerequisite: Ling 560 (no concurrent enrollment allowed).

*Ling 565 Administration of ESL/EFL Programs (4)
Analyzes models of intensive and non-intensive programs in terms of goals, students, levels, staff, schedules, materials and approaches based on resources and facilities available. Discusses theoretical, financial and pedagogical issues in designing and maintaining a successful program.
Prerequisite: Ling 390; 477.