The Language teaching and learning strand deals with the study of the main theoretical and practical issues related to learners' linguistic development, when one or more than one language are involved, either as first, second or foreign languages. It includes issues related to language teaching and learning in different contexts, such as formal instruction, immersion programmes, study abroad, and language centers, literacy and online learning.

It will allow you to:

  • Develop your research skills and access doctoral programmes both nationally and internationally.
  • Train you as a language teacher for a professional career in the educational sector or in language planning (classes, materials, assessment, etc.).

Learning Objectives

1

 To develop your basic skills concerning descriptive and theoretical scientific methodological approaches, technical tools and research methods (data collection and analysis and interpretation) for the study of multilingual and multicultural linguistic development.

2

 To transfer abilities to: i) research; ii) teaching, either in the classroom or on-line. Practice will be gained in developing descriptive and experimental elicitation tests for the study of linguistic processes and outcomes, in materials' design, teacher education, and educational publishing.

Faculty

The faculty involved in this specialization enjoy international recognition. Many belong to the research group Gr@el (the Language Learning and Teaching Research Group). Lines of research include first and additional language and foreign language pedagogy and didactics, as well as critical and digital literacies, testing, and reflective teaching practices.

Courses

The core courses of this specialization are listed below. The first two are offered biennially in alternation. The latter two are offered annually; they are very closely related subjects, dealing with key issues in teaching Spanish as a foreign language, and thus require a high level of competence in Spanish.

  • Language teaching
  • Language learning processes
  • Classroom procedures and skills
  • Pedagogical Spanish grammar

Students may also consider courses from the Language Acquisition specialization, as these deal with related topics:

  • Language acquisition and bilingualism
  • Cognition and language acquisition

The following methodological course is required in this specialization:

  • Experimental and observational techniques

The other requried methodology course can be chosen according to the student’s research interests.

Languages of instruction

The courses in the Language Learning and Teaching specialization are generally taught in Spanish, although it is necessary to know enough English to be able to follow the methodological and advanced foundational courses. A high level of Spanish (at least Level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference) is essential in order to take subjects such as Classroom procedures and skills or Pedagogical Spanish grammar. In the case of some courses, written work can be presented in other languages with prior authorization from the instructor.

Career paths after the Master’s

  • Teaching languages in all contexts: mother tongue, foreign languages, literacy, conversation, pronunciation, language for specific purposes, technical writing, etc.
  • Training language teachers for all educational levels and contexts.
  • Preparing language learning materials: textbooks, complementary tasks, programmes and syllabi, etc.
  • Designing and developing language learning management systems (LMSs): managing platforms (Moodle, Sakay, Blackboard, etc.), language learning apps, etc.
  • Language assessment: exam and portfolio correction and supervision, writing exams, guides and rubrics, etc.
  • Researching language-learning contexts: methodology, curricula, materials, classroom practicals, etc.