This elective module explores the psychology of language from a scientific perspective. The major issues of psycholinguistics cover the psychological processes underlying language comprehension (listening and speaking), language production (speaking and writing), and language acquisition (first language and second language). Fundamental theories and research in general psychology, language processing, brain and neurosciences, and language disorders will be introduced. This course will also establish connections between conceptual discussions, empirical works, and real-world applications of psycholinguistics, such as language teaching and speech therapy.

This module aims to equip learners with the key concepts and approaches related to writing instruction and assessment, with a focus on technology-enhanced writing instruction and assessment at the primary and secondary school levels. It develops students’ skills of designing technology-enhanced writing instruction and assessment. Students will also develop the ability to critically evaluate writing instruction and assessment.

This module focuses on a special topic in English Language Teaching and Testing: The task-based approach. It explores needs analysis, syllabus design, class implementation, and assessment issues in task-based language teaching and learning (TBLT). Students will be introduced to the psycholinguistic and socio-cultural rationales of TBLT and how it emerges as a research-informed pedagogy. As such, basic research skills in TBLT will be discussed to foster critical thinking and a sense of accountability among in-service and prospective teachers.

This module introduces students to a special topic in the MA-ELTA programme: language testing and assessment for gifted children and children with special needs. Topics in this module include history of assessment for gifted and special needs, identifying non-normality in language development, language testing for talents, language testing for special needs children, and other essential consideration in language assessment for the identified students. This module aims to broaden students’ knowledge base in language assessment from an alternative perspective. Students will learn to appreciate the diversity of student population and thus accommodate different needs in language testing and assessment.

This module aims to provide learners with the essential knowledge to critically analyse vocabularyresearch and practice. Its objective is to enable learners to create effective plans for vocabulary learningwithin a course. The module will explore the various issues that teachers must consider when planning forvocabulary instruction and will apply these considerations to a teaching and learning programme.Furthermore, the module will delve into the issues surrounding vocabulary assessment. It will examinedifferent approaches and strategies for assessing vocabulary knowledge and proficiency in learners. Byexploring these assessment issues, learners will gain insights into how to effectively evaluate and measurevocabulary learning outcomes. This module is also well-aligned with the intended requirements fordeveloping digital literacy in the digital era.

This module introduces multimodal linguistics, i.e. the burgeoning growth, diversification, andconnectivity of (linguistic) multimodality research. From general to specific, this module first provides anall-embracing sketch of the field of multimodality by introducing main research topics, domains,approaches and methods. Linguistic multimodality studies that investigate a variety of multimodalartefacts that combine verbal text, images, diagrams, layout, gesture, video, software, etc. to construct acertain message and examine the ways such diverse meaning-making sources combine will also beintroduced. Then the focus of this module will be narrowed down to multimodal literacy and classroominteraction, which are highly relevant for language teaching and learning. Students will be introduced tothe nature and challenge of multimodal classrooms, and how to adapt multimodality and its large-scaleanalysis to empower English language teaching and learning. Upon successful completion of this module,students are able to propose pedagogical applications of multimodality to the field of English teaching andlearning.

This module provides an introduction to language teaching and learning from interdisciplinaryperspectives, encompassing linguistic, cognitive, and socio-cultural theories. In addition to exploringfundamental concepts, the course periodically delves into specific areas of language teaching and learningthat are not typically covered in the regular MA-ELTA curriculum. The issues, problems, and trends in thislanguage teaching and learning topic will be discussed in depth. The module engages with issues thatrevolve around the intersection of theory and practice, emphasising the translation of theory into practicalapplication and the use of practical experiences to inform theoretical frameworks. Students have theopportunity to enroll in this module multiple times, earning credits each time they successfully completeit. However, it’s important to note that students cannot repeat this module under the same topic.

This module provides an opportunity for students to be exposed to some current developments in certainarea of English language testing and assessment research which are not discussed in depth in other MA-ELTA courses. The topics vary according to the research expertise of the staff or the visiting academics.Students are expected to develop an understanding of the topics through reading related research, as wellas presentation and discussion of research design and data analysis.
Subject to the approval of the MA-ELTA Programme Director, students are allowed to take this modulemore than once, provided that different offerings cover different topics, and gain the credits each timethey pass the module. However, students cannot take this module more than once in a single semester;nor can they take this module in different semesters covering the same topics.

This module provides students with a broad overview of the historical reasons behind the development of English into a global language. Moreover, the module aims to critically examine the linguistic features, role, status of English in a wide range of socio-cultural and political contexts around the world. The module is designed to develop students’ language expertise through the analysis of linguistic features of varieties of Englishes and aims to develop an appreciation of the effects of different socio-cultural contexts including language contact and multilingualism