Understanding Language

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is aimed at graduates with an interest in the development of languages and language teaching. It will give you a taste of postgraduate study in the field of English language teaching. You can use the hashtag #FLlanguage to talk about this course on social media.

• The nature of language and language learning including discussion of what is hard and easy in second language acquisition
• Language teaching in the classroom including consideration of classrooms as communities of practice and theories about effective classroom pedagogy
• Consideration of two case studies in current teaching practice: task-based language teaching (TBLT) and content and language integrated learning (CLIL)
• Technology in language learning and teaching and the changing role of teacher and learner
• Online versus face-to-face language learning
• The use of English as a global language or lingua franca
• The historical spread of English and implications for language policy and teaching
• Definitions of English as a lingua franca (ELF), the scale of ELF use and its pros and cons
• Exploration of the work of Global Englishes researchers and invitation to join in with a research project.