120002 SE MEd 03: SE Applied Research Seminar (2024W)

This course aims to provide an understanding of how various research methods, approaches, and tools can be used to explore the role of individual differences in learning additional languages. Within this context, individual differences refer to “how individuals differ in traits such as skills, aptitudes, and abilities to learn and perform” (Sullivan, 2009, p. 252). Research on individual differences in second language (L2) learning is a vibrant field of study, exploring, for instance, the role of language learning aptitude (Sparks & Ganschow, 2001), second language motivation (Dörnyei, 2009), language learner emotions (e.g., Dewaele et al., 2023), willingness to communicate (Henry & MacIntyre, 2023), and personality traits (Chen et al., 2021) in L2 learning.

In this course, students will enhance their skills in interpreting, evaluating and applying methods for examining such factors that can influence L2 learning. They will gain practical experience in collecting, transcribing, describing, coding, analyzing, and discussing data. This hands-on work will prepare them to investigate factors, such as second language motivation, learner emotions, willingness to communicate, and learner engagement, empirically. Students will learn how to identify research problems and questions about individual differences in language learning, how to choose suitable methods to address these questions, how to ensure research validity and reliability, and they will be familiarized with using a range of data collection and analysis tools. Research tools covered in this course will include questionnaires, interviews, and verbal protocols.

Participants will strengthen their ability to engage in academic discussions, and completing the course assignments will improve their critical thinking and writing abilities. Additionally, students will gain practical experience in L2 acquisition research by working on a small-scale group project, and they will further enhance their presentation skills during group presentation sessions.

Methods:
Individual/pair/group work, discussion of readings, mini lectures/input, group presentations, critical reflection on and evaluation of data and pertinent literature