Applied Linguistics (M.Phil. / P.Grad.Dip.)

NFQ Level 9
1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

Overview

Course Overview

​​The discipline of applied linguistics investigates a range of issues around language in contemporary society. Among these, the most prominent issues — and the central topics of the M.Phil. in Applied Linguistics — are those surrounding second and foreign language education. It is often said that globalisation has made the learning of additional languages an essential goal in education, but in truth, language learning has been important in most places at most times. In spite of this, language education in its various aspects was under-researched until the 1960s, so applied linguistics is a relatively young but increasingly important field.

There are two central strands in the applied linguistics of language teaching and learning. One, usually called second language acquisition, investigates the psychology of language learning, which is a phenomenon that is not confined to the classroom or other instructed contexts. The other, second language pedagogy, focuses on instruction at various different scales: language education policy, curriculum, teaching methods, and learning tasks. Given this educational focus, applied linguistics draws not only on linguistics, but also on educational psychology, educational philosophy, social psychology, and cognitive psychology, among other disciplines.

Is This Course For Me?

Students need not have any background in linguistics or applied linguistics. They are normally expected to have language teaching experience. Indeed, many of our students have been practising teachers who wish to expand their career horizons by deeper study of the current state of the art in language education. In particular, CLCS has from the start been closely involved with the development of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the associated European Language Portfolio. The rationale for and practical use of these increasingly important tools are a recurring theme in the course.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from this programme have followed various career paths in language education and other language professions, in a variety of roles such as linguistics researcher, interpreter, business consultant and language programme manager. Many have opted to pursue research at a higher level through the Ph.D., here in CLCS or elsewhere.  For some, Ph.D. research has led to professional academic employment.

Course Structure

This course can be taken full-time across one year or part-time across two years.

Each term, full-time students take two core modules and one elective, for a total of four core modules and two electives across the year.

Part-time students take one core module each term in their first year. In their second year, they take the remaining two core modules. They take one elective each year.

Course Content

Students take four core modules, including: Describing Grammar; Language Acquisition; Second Language Curriculum Planning and Implementation; and Language Testing.

Students then choose two electives among the following menu of elective modules available every year: Corpus Linguistics; Computer Assisted Language Learning; Linguistic Pragmatics; Multilingualism; Psychology of Language Learning and Teaching; and Speech and Language Technology in Education; Technology, Language, and Communication.

In the final phase of the course, students prepare and write a 15,000-word dissertation.

Click here for further information on modules/subject.

Course Details

Awards

NFQ Level 9

Next Intake

September 2024

Course Coordinator

Dr Elaine Uí Dhonnchadha

Closing Date

30th June 2024

students working in library/>

Admission Requirements

Applicants should have a good honours degree (at least an upper second or equivalent; GPA of at least 3.2). Previous knowledge of applied linguistics is not a requirement. Normally only graduates with language teaching experience are admitted to the course in Applied Linguistics.

Applicants whose first language is not English and who have not been educated through the medium of English must meet the College's requirements for English-language proficiency, i.e. the minimum acceptable IELTS score is 7.0. For this course, no individual IELTS band can be below 6.5 (or the minimum equivalents in other approved English language proficiency tests listed on the College website). Students whose first language is not English are encouraged to attend our pre-sessional Summer programme to prepare them for postgraduate study in Ireland (see here).

Applicants must provide a Personal Statement explaining their motivation in applying for their chosen course(s).

Course Fees

Click here for a full list of postgraduate fees.

Register Your Interest

Register your interest in studying at Ireland’s leading university, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin.

Register Your Interest

I chose Trinity mainly because of its international reputation, particularly the Linguistics department in which I'm going to study. Its location is also smack bang in the center of Dublin, which is perfect and easily accessible.

Joseph Murphy

Current student