These sessions present an exciting opportunity for all students fascinated by the English language! Dive into the captivating world of linguistics as we explore English language as an academic discipline—discovering what it studies, how it evolves, and why it plays a vital role in communication and culture.
Unlock the power of language with Coventry University’s English Language Masterclasses, designed for secondary school, sixth form and college students eager to enhance their understanding of how language works. Led by our expert academic staff, these masterclasses cover topics such as the social use of language, meaning and the conceptual system, language and the mind, and literary language. Students will participate in interactive workshops, engaging discussions, and practical exercises that will deepen their appreciation for the English language and its diverse applications. These sessions offer a unique glimpse into university-level study while equipping students with valuable skills for their academic and professional futures. Join us at Coventry University to elevate your understanding of English language and expression!
Available sessions:
Meanings and metaphors: how language helps us to understand the world around us
This session will introduce you to the close relationship between language and our minds. Drawing from the field of cognitive linguistics, we will be looking at how language provides us with a structure to make sense of a complex world, and how we can leverage that to work for us.
The power of words: how our language shapes our reality
This session will introduce you to the way language can be used to reflect and perpetuate attitudes and values, and how carefully examining texts can give us an insight into the views and beliefs of their writers
When literature meets linguistics: fiction under the microscope
This session will introduce you to a new way of looking at your favourite novels, poems and plays, using techniques adapted from linguistics.
Note: this session can be tailored to match the interests of the group. Please let us know what text(s) you would like to focus on.
Using online tools to research language change
Ever wondered whether it's correct to say less or fewer? Or where the word woke came from? This talk will look how language is changing by exploring new uses of words, newly emerging words and issues of grammatical change in contemporary English.
Foreign accent syndrome
This session will look at a rare speech disorder known as 'foreign accent syndrome' (FAS), where a person suddenly starts talking with a different accent to their usual one due to some brain trauma or stroke.
Consciousness in AIs and humans
This session will look at the human mind and consider what it means to be 'conscious'. To what extent is language involved in this? It will look at the hard problem of consciousness and how we can know that other people are conscious.
Generative AI and creating English learning/teaching materials
The emergence of AI (a.k.a. Large Language Models) presents us with a great opportunity for saving time when creating lesson materials but there are some questions over the quality and creativity of the materials that are generated in this way. We'll look at the options and critique what is produced.
We are also able to develop and deliver sessions related to school/college curricula. Please enquire for more information.