Master's seminar I

This is a 2-year course which aims at preparing trainee teachers for writing their Master Theses. During this seminar the thesis is meant to be based on empirical research. Thesis projects will focus on issues related to second language acquisition and teaching English to young learners in bilingual and instructed contexts. In the first year the students will identify their areas of interest, submit initial research proposals (semester 1) and design their research instruments (semester 2). In the second year they will finalize their research instruments and carry out research proper (semester 1) to complete the thesis by the end of semester 2. During the first year the seminar will serve the purpose of the forum for discussions, sharing ideas and getting feedback on research projects. In year two the format of the classes will change into tutorials.

-current research studies into teaching English to young learners in bilingual and instructed contexts

-overview of language teacher studies (teacher beliefs, identities, cognition)

-revision of research methods and techniques in different research traditions (psychometrics, classroom interaction, classroom discourse, ethnography and interpretive methods)

-ethics in researching children

-individual areas of student research

-principles of planning research projects and their reports (intro, literature review, methods, data and findings, conclusions)

-planning and writing different types of academic and non-academic texts (literature review, research outline, referencing)

Freeman, D. 1998. Doing Teacher Research. Boston: Heinle.

Dorneyei, Z. 2007. Research Methods in Applied Linguistics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Wallace, M.J. 1997. Action Research for Language Teachers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Szpotowicz, M. 2008. Second Language Processes in Lower Primary Children. Warszawa: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego.

After the course the student:

Knowledge:

- knows and understands terms and concepts which are related to the topics covered during the course

knows research methods which are suitable in doing research into teaching English to young learners in bilingual and instructed contexts

- identifies ethical issues in doing research with children

- knows the principles of writing academic texts, and formal lesson plans, as well as referencing, quoting and paraphrasing

- knows how to avoid plagiarism

Skills

- uses a variety of ELT terms connected with the topics covered during the course both in a written text and in an oral presentation

- designs research projects based on the analysis of educational issues observed in language classes or in the system of education

- prepares documents which are necessary to perform research based on informed consent

- formulates general and specific research questions and plans appropriate research instruments

- analyzes data and interprets the results

- presents research in writing and speaking

- takes part in discussions about teaching and learning English as a foreign language as a participant and as a moderator

Competences:

- is aware of plagiarism and knows ways of avoiding it in their research and writing

- recognizes the importance of ethical issues based on informed consent

- recognizes the value of accurate and reliable reporting of research data

- acknowledges the value of conducting research as a tool for professional development

- demonstrates autonomous attitude towards conducting own research project

- 2 absences allowed in a semester

- written assignments: literature review, project outline, annotated bibliography, subsequent thesis chapters

- project presentations