Placement abroad is widely recognised as a key means for developing a range of personal and professional skills and for fostering intercultural skills and awareness. The Applied Linguistics Praxis is designed to maximise flexibility with regard to the placement abroad experience whilst at the same time ensuring that students are given the opportunity to enhance their research and professional skills in a coherent way, to a level demonstrably equivalent to that achieved by students taking the existing dissertation module. Students will contact a potential host in an overseas institution who agrees to offer students an internship/praxis compatible with the requirements indicated here. This is agreed in advance by the Course Director.This module encourages students to derive maximum benefit from their placement by allowing them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired through their programme of study and put these into practice on their internship/praxis, and critically and analytically reflect in depth on the process.

Students find a relevant supervisor (specific guidelines for students and hosts will be drawn up in advance) in an overseas institution (no formal partnership is required) who will offer them an internship. Students will stay at the host institution for twelve weeks. Students will immerse themselves in the culture of the host institution, thus facilitating cultural awareness and intercultural competencies. The host internship supervisor will report back to the course director at the end of the placement period. Students will write a reflective and analytical portfolio on their internship, bringing together theories and practices of Applied Linguistics and how these have been realised in their internship/practice (approx. 10,000 words). Research skills, techniques and theoretical concepts in the field of Applied Linguistics will be included in this portfolio. Reflective and evidence-based practice and a focus on professional and career development will be facilitated via the internship.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: - demonstrate enhanced knowledge of Applied Linguistics from a different cultural perspective, - demonstrate and apply understanding and skills from an internship/praxis in an overseas institution, - demonstrate greater intercultural communicative competence, - reflect on considerations and issues that tend to arise during placements abroad, - manage the learning process independently and effectively, - produce a written evidence-based practice report/portfolio during their time abroad

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: - display heightened intercultural awareness and sensitivity, - demonstrate self-motivation and autonomy, - value issues relating to internationalisation, - display improved self-awareness and commitment through the praxis

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Students will find a supervisor willing offer them an internship/praxis for a minimum of twelve weeks (this agreement will be made in conjunction with the course director). Students will obtain 30 credits for successful completion of the internship abroad and their written reflective portfolio (guidelines will specify details for students and hosts). For the written portfolio, students will reflect on their internship experience using theories and practices they have learned on the taught elements of the programme and critically report on how they were realised etc. in practice. Graduate attributes of critical thinking and collaboration will be enhanced. Students will be encouraged to be proactive in their approach to their internship abroad and will be expected to coherently articulate their experiences in English and/or a chosen foreign language. Responsibility will be a key attribute to be fostered as a result of the placement abroad experience.