Teaching Associate, Theories of Language 2021/2022

I am pleased to announce that from September 2021 I will be teaching the Theories of Language module for the English Language (BA) degree course at the the University of Birmingham,  English Language and Linguistics department, with Dr Joe Spencer-Bennett.

Module description
The aims of this module are to provide first year undergraduate students of English Language with (a) a sound basic knowledge and understanding of the major theories of language that have been developed within the discipline of linguistics from the beginning of the 20th century up to the present day, and (b) a sound basic awareness of the key figures associated with each of these theoretical traditions. The module begins with an overview of the basic concepts of structuralist linguistics as laid down by Saussure, before moving on to consider the generativist approach established by Chomsky. We then focus on the two main alternatives to (and critiques of) generative linguistics: functionalism, particularly in the British tradition established by Firth (e.g. Halliday, Sinclair, Hoey) and the usage- based theories associated with cognitive linguistics (e.g. Langacker, Fillmore, Lakoff, Tomasello). Throughout the module students will be encouraged to think critically about each theoretical tradition, and to consider which of the linguistic theories they are introduced to they find the most compelling and/or useful. 

Training
For this role, I will be undergoing teacher training for the that covers the following topics:
- Introduction to Teaching and Learning ITL001
- Laboratory-based small group teaching: more information and to book ILT002
- Small group teaching: more information and to book ILT003
- Introduction to Assessment and Feedback: more information and to book ILT004
- Supporting diversity: more information and to book ILT006