ENG4117 – Analysing advanced learner English
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The course focuses on features of advanced learner English. Through reading and work with linguistic corpora, we will discuss questions such as the following:
- What are the differences between native and non-native English as regards vocabulary, phraseology, grammar and text organization?
- To what extent and in what ways is non-native English coloured by the learner’s first language?
The main methodological approach taken in the course is called "contrastive interlanguage analysis". It typically involves the use of digital text corpora to explore patterns of language use. Thus the course also includes an introduction to the use of corpora of spoken and written learner English, which will be used in conjunction with similar corpora of L1 English.?The emphasis of the corpus analysis is not so much on errors as on quantitative and qualitative differences between native and non-native English.
Learning outcome
After completing the course you will be able to:
- describe linguistic features of non-native English.
- apply the methodological framework of contrastive interlanguage analysis.
- compare native and non-native English on the basis of corpus material.
- conduct a case study of selected features of advanced learner English.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Recommended previous knowledge
Students should have some competence in corpus methods (for example through ENG4111 – Corpora in English Language Research or other courses that involve corpus work). Students who are not already familiar with interlanguage analysis (for example from ENG2162 – Contrastive and Learner Language Analysis or similar courses) may have to do some extra reading.
Teaching
Seminar, two hours per week for ten weeks, 20 hours in total.
Students are expected to attend all teaching. Some parts of the seminars, for example instruction in corpus use, will be difficult to acquire otherwise.?Students are expected to bring a laptop to class for most of the seminars in order to do practical corpus tasks.
Obligatory activities:
Two obligatory assignments (one essay based on course reading and a short paper presenting a brief outline of the topic for the term paper and an annotated list of selected reading in connection with this). Read more here about rules concerning valid excuses and how to apply for postponements. Information about guidelines for obligatory activities.
It is obligatory to show up for a minimum of 60% of the teaching. In this course you have to attend a minimum of 6 of 10 seminars. The requirement is absolute.
The allowed absence limit will cover all absences, including illness. You will not be granted valid absences with documentation, even when the absence is due to something beyond your control.
If the course has in-person teaching, and you are signed up for an in-person seminar group, you are to attend the teaching in the location found in the schedule.
If the course has digital teaching, and you are signed up for a digital seminar group, you must attend via Zoom with your camera on.
In certain circumstances, i.e. serious or chronic illness, you could apply for special needs accomodations.
Fulfilled course requirements are only valid the semester you attend the course.
Examination
The obligatory requirements must be fulfilled in order to qualify for the exam.
The assessment of the course is based on a term paper of approximately ten standard pages (a standard page consists of 2,300 characters). This does not include front matter (cover page and table of contents) and references. The topic for the term paper is chosen by the student, but must be approved by the teacher. In the assessment, both content and language will be considered, as well as the appropriate presentation of quotations, references and linguistic examples.
Language of examination
The language of examination is English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
A term paper or equivalent that is passed may not be resubmitted in revised form.
If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.