Cours LIN1135 – Understanding Language for the Teaching of ESL 1: Foundations of English Linguistics

The overall objective of this course is to provide students, future ESL teachers, with essential linguistic knowledge necessary for language teaching. At the end of this course, students, as future ESL teachers, will understand the foundational building blocks of English (e.g., phonology, morphosyntax, semantics/pragmatics, lexicology) and their practical relevance. They will also demonstrate the ability to identify and describe linguistic patterns and regularities.

The course content includes the core linguistic building blocks of English such as phonology (the English sound system), morphosyntax (morphology/syntax interface, word formation, grammar, and the structure of English), semantics/pragmatics and lexicology (vocabulary development, collocations). Overview of linguistic theories including (but not limited to), usage-based grammar (emphasizing the role of patterns, frequency, and context in language use) and generative grammar. Note that assessments will not include teaching situations.