Applied Linguistics Research
On this page:
- About Applied Linguistics Research
- Classroom Based Research
- Corpus Linguistics
- Learner Autonomy
- Second Language Acquisition
- Testing and Assessment
- Vocabulary
About Applied Linguistics Research
Applied Linguistics links the study of language (Linguistics) with the teaching and learning of languages. Our School has a strong international profile in Applied Linguistics, in particular in vocabulary studies, second language learning and teaching. Applied Linguistics covers a wide range of areas, including:
- investigating language in classrooms (classroom-based research)
- different kinds of written and spoken texts (corpus linguistics)
- how learners approach language learning (learner autonomy)
- testing and assessment of language learning, and
- vocabulary.
We also look at bilingualism and multilingualism, interpretation and translation, and dictionary making.
Classroom-Based Research
School staff and research students engage in a range of classroom-based research. Research in this area can use qualitative and/or quantitative methods, but has a common concern with describing and understanding language use and/or processes of language teaching/learning in classrooms at any level.
Data for classroom-based research studies are collected in the context of ongoing teaching/learning in classrooms (including virtual learning environments).
Thesis research in this area is supervised by:
- Dr Averil Coxhead
- Associate Professor David Crabbe
- Dr Peter Gu
- Dr John Macalister
- Dr Rachel McKee
- Dr Jonathan Newton
- Dr Elaine Vine, and
- Dr Stuart Webb.
Corpus Linguistics
The School is the home of the Wellington Corpora of Spoken and Written New Zealand English and the New Zealand component of the International Corpus of English, managed by Dr Bernadette Vine.
A corpus is a principled collection of machine-readable authentic spoken or written texts. Corpus studies attempt to identify patterns of language use, eg lexicon, grammar, discourse, in a relevant corpus or corpora.
Thesis research in this area is supervised by:
- Dr Averil Coxhead
- Dr Dianne Bardsley
- Professor Laurie Bauer
- Dr John Macalister
- Dr Elaine Vine, and
- Dr Stuart Webb.
Learner Autonomy
When we look at learner autonomy and learning strategies, we consider questions such as: 'How do language learners actively approach, manage, and control their own learning processes for the successful completion of learning tasks?' and 'How can learners develop as independent, social, and responsible individuals?'.
The School has a strong tradition in research in learner autonomy and learning strategies. The School also collaborates closely with the Language Learning Centre, which facilitates and supports independent language learning.
Research students in these areas are supervised by:
Second Language Acquisition
Second Language Acquisition (SLA) is a broad research field. At the School our focus is largely, although not exclusively, on instructed second language acquisition. See other topics in this list such as Classroom Based Research and Vocabulary for research areas that overlap with SLA research at the School. Our SLA research interests include the roles of task-based interaction, feedback and focus on form in language learning, socio-cultural perspectives on language learning, learner autonomy, and acquisition of intercultural competence (including intercultural pragmatics).
Staff who supervise postgraduate research in Second Language Acquisition include:
Testing and Assessment
The central concerns of language testing include the development, validation, and analysis of language tests. Language assessment, on the other hand, focuses more on the classroom use of language assessment for the purposes of learning and teaching.
Research in these areas is currently supervised by Dr Peter Gu.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary has received a great deal of attention in the literature on language learning in recent years and has been an area of strength in the School since the 1960s. Research at LALS has involved topics such as:- the creation of the Vocabulary Levels Test - a diagnostic test designed to measure the vocabulary learners know at different levels of frequency
- the creation of the Academic Word List – a list of the words which are most useful for learners to know when studying at university
- determining the vocabulary size necessary to understand a novel, newspaper, conversation, or movie
- PhD and MA research on vocabulary is currently being supervised by Paul Nation, Dr Averil Coxhead, and Dr Stuart Webb.