Universität Wien

120226 SE MA Seminar - Focus: Applied Linguistics / Linguistics Seminar (2025S)

Applied Linguistics and AI: new directions in research and practice

10.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle
Fr 02.05. 10:15-11:45 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 15 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Please note: this is a mixed class (digital + on-site) with a blocked session on Friday, 14 March and Saturday, 15 March. The sessions will be held on the dates as indicated in the timeline below:

Friday, 14.03.25: 14-18:00: on-site, block
Saturday, 15.03.25: 09-13:00: on-site, block
Friday, 21.03.25: 10-12:00: digital
Friday, 28.03.25: 10-12:00: digital
Friday, 04.04.25: 10-12:00: digital
Friday, 11.04.25: 10-12:00: on-site
Friday, 02.05.25: 10-12:00: digital
Friday, 09.05.25: 10-12:00: digital
Friday, 16.05.25: 10-12:00: digital
Friday, 23.05.25: 10-12:00: on-site
Friday, 06.06.25: 10-12:00: digital

  • Friday 14.03. 14:00 - 18:00 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Saturday 15.03. 09:00 - 13:00 Raum 2 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-09
  • Friday 21.03. 10:15 - 11:45 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Friday 28.03. 10:15 - 11:45 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Friday 04.04. 10:15 - 11:45 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Friday 11.04. 10:15 - 11:45 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Friday 09.05. 10:15 - 11:45 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Friday 16.05. 10:15 - 11:45 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Friday 23.05. 10:15 - 11:45 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Friday 06.06. 10:15 - 11:45 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This seminar introduces you to new directions in research and practice in Applied Linguistics in the context of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI refers to an evolving set of technologies, dating back to the 1950s, which allows the completion of tasks and functions that would normally require a human’s intelligence. Trained on large language models, generative AI (genAI) is a type of AI that produces unique content (text, video, audio, images etc.), based on a user’s prompt. At this moment in time, generative AI (GenAI) technologies in particular encourages the field of applied linguistics to explore innovative approaches to communication. For applied linguists, trending fields include the use of AI in the teaching and learning industry, translation, as well as professional, intercultural and academic communication.
In this class, we will explore current empirical and conceptual articles in sociolinguistics and applied linguistics that centre the use of AI in research and practice. We will also engage with critical scholarly debates that promote a responsible and ethical use of AI in applied linguistic contexts. We will further examine practical strategies for trialling and integrating (gen)AI tools in different communicative contexts (e.g. academic research, text production, comprehension, or language revisions).
This seminar is exploratory in nature, based on state-of-the-art readings about AI and Applied Linguistics, and practice-based examples of the use of AI in different applied linguistic contexts. This will allow you to carry out your own empirical small-scale research for the purpose of your seminar papers. Your will undertake empirical case studies, for example, based on interviews or surveys about language and AI or an analysis of AI-driven language solutions).

Aims:
• You will develop knowledge about the concept of AI and AI tools in Applied Linguistics
• You will gain insights into current studies in Applied Linguistics / Sociolinguistics that focus on AI
• You will develop a critical understanding of the use of AI, its affordances and pitfalls
• You will get familiar with practice-based examples of the use of AI

Method of the course:
*This course is blocked and mixed, with digital sessions via Zoom and in-person sessions on days as indicated in the timeline below.*
We will engage with the topic via readings, practice-based activities, joint discussions, group work, assignments, mini-presentations and individual research. By undertaking small-scale empirical studies (e.g. via interviews, surveys about AI or an analysis of AI-driven solutions), you will gain experience in undertaking case study research and gain insights into the multiple facets of AI in Applied Linguistics.

Assessment and permitted materials

Course evaluation is based on:
* active class participation, assignments & project description on AI in Applied Linguistics case study (max. 25 points)
* oral presentation on AI in Applied Linguistics case study (max. 15 points)
* paper on AI in Applied Linguistics case study (incl. academic paper and data analysis; max. 60 points)
Project description, presentation and paper are based on the small-scale research project each student will select and work on during the semester.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

a) regular class attendance (max. 2 absences)
b) giving the oral presentation (on set date)
c) submitting the project description & seminar paper (on set date)
d) attaining 60 of the maximum 100 points
e) refraining from plagiarism in all tasks

Final grades & points achieved: ‘1’: 90-100; ‘2’: 80-89; ‘3’: 70-79; ‘4’: 60-69; ‘5’: 0-59

Examination topics

Presentation, paper, engagement in discussion and group work, assignments

Reading list

Reading list:
Will be provided on Moodle per Unit under “Readings” folder (either as pdf or available as e-source via library).

The following readings are recommended as an introduction to the topic:
- Kelly-Holmes, H. (2024). Artificial intelligence and the future of our sociolinguistic work. Journal of Sociolinguistics 28, 3–10. https://doi.org/10.1111/josl.12678
- Mitchell, M. 2024. The metaphors of artificial intelligence. Science 386, eadt6140(2024). DOI:10.1126/science.adt6140 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adt6140
Additional literature (as weekly preparation and follow-up for the seminar) will be announced during class and on Moodle.

Association in the course directory

Studium: MA 812 [2];
Code/Modul: MA 4, MA 5;
Lehrinhalt: 12-0496

Last modified: Fr 28.02.2025 14:26