Skip to main content

ESOL 673

ESOL 673: Foundations of Linguistics for Multilingual Learners

Prerequisites: Admission to Graduate College or permission of the instructor.

Credit Hours: (3)

This course provides an introduction to the scientific study of language with direct application to the instruction of multilingual learners (MLs). Candidates examine English phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, World Englishes, language variation, and cross-linguistic influence. Emphasis is placed on analyzing language as a system, understanding how linguistic features affect MLs’ language development, and applying linguistic knowledge to instructional planning, assessment, and support. 

Note(s): This would be a fully asynchronous class. 

 

Detailed Description of the Content of the Course

Topics include but are not limited to:: 

  • Phonetics and phonology: articulation, stress, intonation, minimal pairs, IPA 
  • Morphology: morpheme types, word formation, derivational vs. inflectional patterns 
  • Syntax: phrase and clause structure, questions, negation, sentence types 
  • Semantics: meaning relationships, synonyms, homophones, idioms, figurative language 
  • Pragmatics: speech acts, pragmatic failure, indirectness, code-switching 
  • Sociolinguistics: language variation, dialects, sociolects, registers, identity 
  • World Englishes: global varieties of English and implications for instruction 
  • Written English mechanics: punctuation, spelling, capitalization, irregularities 
  • Communicative competence: grammatical, discourse, sociolinguistic, strategic 
  • Cross-linguistic influence: cognates, transfer, learner error patterns 
  • Instructional implications for K–12 multilingual learners 
  • Analysis of content-area texts for linguistic demands 
  • Linguistic supports for reading, writing, speaking, and listening

 

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Course will include but are not limited to:: 

  • Discussions 
  • Linguistic problem-solving exercises 
  • IPA transcription and phonological analysis 
  • Analysis of authentic ML oral and written language samples 
  • Cross-linguistic comparison tasks 
  • Small-group application projects 
  • Case studies focusing on ML error patterns 
  • Readings from linguistics, ESOL pedagogy, and applied linguistics 
  • Online modules, multimedia demonstrations, and collaborative tasks 
  • Instructional design tasks integrating linguistic knowledge 
  • Reading Comprehension Strategy instruction

 

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify and analyze English phonemes, stress, intonation, and phonetic environments using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). 
  2. Differentiate between derivational and inflectional morphemes and explain how word formation processes affect ML vocabulary development. 
  3. Analyze English syntax and identify common ML error patterns, including transfer-related structures. 
  4. Explain semantic relationships, including collocations, synonyms, antonyms, homophones, homonyms, idioms, and figurative language. 
  5. Compare English linguistic structures with those of other languages and identify cognates and cross-linguistic influences. 
  6. Identify pragmatic features of language including speech acts, politeness strategies, and sources of pragmatic failure. 
  7. Describe sociolinguistic constructs such as dialects, sociolects, registers, language variation, and identity. 
  8. Explain the concept of World Englishes and its implications for equitable ML instruction. 
  9. Identify errors in written English mechanics (spelling, punctuation, capitalization) and describe instructional strategies to address them. 
  10. Analyze rhetorical and genre structures in academic English and their demands on MLs. 
  11. Apply the framework of communicative competence to instructional decision-making. 
  12. Recognize English irregularities (irregular verb forms, plurals, and spellings) and plan instruction that addresses them. 
  13. Use linguistic analysis to design linguistically supportive instruction across content areas. 
  14. Demonstrate expertise in reading comprehension strategies, including a repertoire of questioning strategies, understanding the dimensions of word meanings, teaching predicting, inferencing, summarizing, clarifying, evaluating, and making connections 
  15. Demonstrate the ability to develop comprehension skills in all content areas

 

Assessment Measures

Assessment may include: 

  • IPA and Phonetics Analysis Portfolio 
  • Morphology and Word Formation Analysis 
  • Syntax Error Analysis Paper 
  • Cross-Linguistic Comparison Project 
  • Pragmatics and Sociolinguistics Case Study 
  • Final Linguistic Application Project (content-area text or ML sample analysis) 
  • Participation and Discussion-Based Assignments

 

Other Course Information

This course fulfills the linguistics requirement for the ESOL Certification Pathway and aligns with Praxis ESOL 5362 competencies and Virginia ESOL endorsement standards.

 

Review and Approval

May 5, 2026

Apply NowPlan a Visit