Syllabus

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course is intended for students of Aalto-BIZ doctoral program as an elective module of Common Core Studies.

The course provides an overview of theory and method for discourse research. It is structured in two parts, a theoretical and an empirical one; for the latter, the students design and carry out a research project. Through class meetings and independent learning, the course familiarises students with the principles and practices of designing a discourse project; collecting data; analysing interaction; and presenting and writing up findings.

The aims of the course are:

To examine critically  how different theoretical and methodological approaches in discourse studies help us understand, describe and interpret language use in different multilingual and multicultural contexts,

To extend and develop the students knowedge of issues surrounding discourse in societ ,

To develop a critical awareness of the relationship between the features of language and the social context at both micro and macro levels,

To extend and develop the students knowedge of ethnographic research.

Credits: 6

Schedule: 15.05.2024 - 21.05.2024

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Iiris Saittakari

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  The course will draw on the following general themes:

  ·        Philosophical underpinnings of discourse analysis,

  ·        Language use in context,

  ·        Qualitative and quantitative traditions of discourse research,

  ·        Ethnographic research,

  ·        Multimodal analysis,

  ·        What is (not) Discourse Analysis,

  ·        Language and identity,

  ·        Multilingual practices at work,

  ·        Language policy and language practice.

  By the end of the course the student should be able to:

  ·        Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of theories and empirical research on discourse with a particular focus on interaction analysis,

  ·        Show understanding of the relationship between language and society,

  ·        Show awareness of key issues around interaction, identity and multilingualism,

  ·        Evaluate critically how different theoretical & methodological approaches and concepts help to understand, describe and explain language use in different multilingual and multicultural contexts,

  ·        Design and carry out a small-scale investigative ethnographic study using quantitative and/or qualitative methods as appropriate.

Assessment Methods and Criteria

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  ·        Write up discourse research in a clear, informative and structured way,

  ·        Use effectively key theoretical concepts in discourse and terminology,

  ·        Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the complex relationship between language and gender, ethnicity and power in the workplace,

  ·        Demonstrate familiarity with the methods and tools of socio/linguistic enquiry.

DETAILS

Study Material

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Package of readings, to be announced

Substitutes for Courses

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Substitutes for Courses

Prerequisites

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Prerequisites

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Teaching Language : English

  Teaching Period : 2022-2023 Spring V
  2023-2024 Spring V

  Enrollment :

  Registration for Courses: In the academic year 2021-2022, registration for courses will take place on Sisu (sisu.aalto.fi) instead of WebOodi. To apply for the intensive course register via weboodi and email your application to Jo Angouri (J.Angouri@warwick.ac.uk) (Deadline will be confirmed later). You will receive the notification of acceptance by 3rd May.
  Please attach a one page application (max. 500 words) including: a brief motivation for applying, basic details about your project (title/year of study) and a research plan explaining how the course is relevant to you and how you plan to integrate ethnographic discursive research in your own project.

Description