Hauptseminar Investigating Language and Culture as a Researcher

This class will prepare teacher students, diploma, MA as well as doctoral students and students of modularized study programs students alike on how to do foreign and/or second and other language research as well as research in intercultural education and finally write a successful paper or a thesis in this field. Students will be assisted to find an adequate topic, formulate research questions, decide on the sample and research design and prepare their scholarly work. This class will lay the foundation for a successful thesis by showing students how to plan, organize, schedule, monitor and evaluate their work. The use of various sources is most significant for conducting a quality paper. Students will be given advice on how to critically use them. As all theses in this field will be based on empirical data, there will be a strong focus on how to collect, analyze and evaluate empirical data in an appropriate way. This includes, for example, the development of questionnaires, interview guidelines, and the according statistical procedures. Methodological appropriateness will be defined in a context and sample specific way. This class will not only help students to solve upcoming problems that may occur throughout the writing process but also help them develop into successful, proficient and reflective thesis writers. Close collaboration within the class and the professor as a writing community will highly benefit the thesis process. Finkbeiner, C. (2005). Interessen und Strategien beim fremdsprachlichen Lesen: Wie Schülerinnen und Schüler englische Texte lesen und verstehen. Tübingen: Narr, 238-299. Glatthorn, A. A., & Joyner, R. L. (2005). Writing the winning Thesis or Dissertation: A Step-by-Step Guide. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press, 3-38. Mauch, J. E., & Namgi, P. (2003). Guide to the successful Thesis and Dissertation: A Handbook for Students and Faculty. New York: Marcel Dekker Inc., 4-23. Mastering APA Style: Student's Workbook and Training Guide (6th ed.). (2010). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. A reader and a detailed list of references will be provided at the beginning of the course Bemerkung This course will start on April 21st 2015. Due to the research focus the number of participants will be limited to n= 16. The criteria for selection are: - first come first serve (Anmeldung) - focus in foreign language research or intercultural communication - amount of modules finalized Voraussetzungen - Successful participation in -Introduction into Foreign Language Teaching Methodology- for teacher candidates - Successful participation in all other introductory courses and -Proseminare- for all candidates - You need to be an advanced student and have completed at least part of your advanced classes. - Interest in research Leistungsnachweis Successful participation (Teinahmeschein): - Due to the project-oriented and action-oriented classroom design active and regular participation is necessary -Mini presentation and assignments as described in class and online sessions Successful Modularized Exam (Leistungsschein): - empirical paper on an empirical project Lerninhalte This is a blended learning class with self access (online) units and face to face units. The content is on research methods in foreign language research and Intercultural Communication. The content fully complies with the standards and demands of the modularized study exam regulations. Workload has precisely been calculated. Zielgruppe Alle Anglistik/Amerikanistik-Studierende im Hauptstudium, die in der Fremdsprachenlehr- und -lernforschung oder in der Interkulturellen Kommunikation ein Paper oder ihre Abschlussarbeit schreiben möchten. FB 02 Institut für Anglistik / Amerikanistik - Successful participation in -Introduction into Foreign Language Teaching Methodology- for teacher candidates - Successful participation in all other introductory courses and -Proseminare- for all candidates - You need to be an advanced student and have completed at least part of your advanced classes. - Interest in research Successful participation (Teinahmeschein): - Due to the project-oriented and action-oriented classroom design active and regular participation is necessary -Mini presentation and assignments as described in class and online sessions Successful Modularized Exam (Leistungsschein): - empirical paper on an empirical project Uni Kassel SoSe 2015 Wirtschaftspädagogik English and American Studies Prof. Dr. Finkbeiner Claudia