Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
1ELT509Sociolinguistics3+0+03712.10.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction English
Level of Course Unit Master's Degree
Department / Program English Language Teaching
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Compulsory
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course The course develops specialist understanding of sociolinguistic concepts and the ability to compare theoretical perspectives, evaluate research evidence, and interpret language use in its social context. It supports evidence-based reasoning about linguistic diversity, social norms, and language education, as well as academic communication and reflective professional learning.
Course Content This MA course examines the relationship between language and society, with particular attention to English language teaching. It connects variationist and interactional perspectives with multilingualism, identity, language ideologies, policy, and inequality. Students critically evaluate research, analyze supplied language examples and educational cases, and consider how sociolinguistic evidence can inform inclusive, context-sensitive pedagogy. Assessment includes written midterm and final examinations, critical reading responses, participation, and a student-led seminar.
Course Methods and Techniques Three hours per week combine short lectures, close reading, guided discussion, analysis of language examples, case comparison, collaborative problem solving, student-led seminars, and formative feedback.
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Associate Prof.Dr. Seda SIVACI seda.sivaci@hku.edu.tr
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Holmes, J., & Wilson, N. (2022). An introduction to sociolinguistics (6th ed.). Routledge.
McKay, S. L., & Hornberger, N. H. (Eds.). Sociolinguistics and language teaching. Cambridge University Press. Selected chapters provide an explicit connection with language education; contemporary debates are supplemented by recent peer-reviewed studies.
Course Notes Holmes, J., & Wilson, N. (2022). An introduction to sociolinguistics (6th ed.). Routledge.

McKay, S. L., & Hornberger, N. H. (Eds.). Sociolinguistics and language teaching. Cambridge University Press. Selected chapters provide an explicit connection with language education; contemporary debates are supplemented by recent peer-reviewed studies.

Course Category
Field %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 30
Assignment 1 % 20
Final examination 1 % 50
Total
3
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 14 3 42
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 14 5 70
Assignments 10 2 20
Presentation 1 20 20
Mid-terms 1 26 26
Final examination 1 32 32
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 7 210

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Critically explain and compare major sociolinguistic concepts and theoretical perspectives, linking linguistics with social and educational contexts.
2 Analyze supplied examples of language variation, multilingual practices, and interaction in relation to identity, community, and context.
3 Critically evaluate sociolinguistic studies, comparing theoretical assumptions, research methods, evidence, and limitations.
4 Evaluate language ideologies, discrimination, and policy in local and international educational contexts, and propose ethically informed responses.
5 Develop and justify context-sensitive ELT activity designs that draw on sociolinguistic evidence and support linguistic diversity.
6 Lead an evidence-based academic seminar in English, facilitate respectful discussion, and critically reflect on personal learning and professional implications.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Introduction to sociolinguistics: Language and society; sociolinguistics and ELT; critical reading; ethical interpretation. - -
2 Variation and social meaning: Dialect, accent, register and style; regional and social variation; response 1. - -
3 Speech communities and communities of practice: Networks, participation and belonging; competing accounts of community; response 2. - -
4 Language attitudes and ideologies: Standard language ideology, prestige, stigma and linguistic discrimination; response 3. - -
5 Multilingualism and language choice: Bilingualism, diglossia, language maintenance and shift; response 4. - -
6 Code-switching and translanguaging: Competing perspectives; multilingual classroom examples; response 5. - -
7 Language identity and social positioning: Gender, social class, ethnicity and agency; intersectional interpretation; response 6; midterm review. - -
8 Interaction and communicative competence: Contextualization, politeness, pragmatic variation and intercultural interaction; response 7. - -
9 Written midterm examination. - -
10 World Englishes and English as a lingua franca: Norms, intelligibility, ownership and native-speakerism; response 8. - -
11 Language policy and planning: Education policy, medium of instruction and multilingual access; Türkiye and comparative contexts; response 9. - -
12 Critical sociolinguistics and language education: Power, inequality, linguistic rights and inclusive pedagogy; response 10. - -
13 Student-led seminars and ELT applications: Evidence-based presentations, supplied-data analysis and justified ELT activity designs. - -
14 Student-led seminars and comparative cases: Remaining seminars; peer feedback; synthesis across topics. - -
15 Integration and examination preparation: Comparative cases; formative practice in analysis and activity design; learning reflection. - -

 
Sustainable Development Goals
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12
C1 5 3 3
C2 4 3 3
C3 4 5 2 2
C4 3 3 4 4 3
C5 3 4 3 4 3 4
C6 3 4 2 4 4

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant