Graduate Studies
Master of Arts in Bilingualism Studies (MA)
Objectives of the Program
The program focuses on several critical issues in the field of Applied Linguistics, including methodological and technological innovations in adult second language instruction, assessment of adult second language competence, as well as language policy and planning.
The primary objective of the program is to offer a strong graduate education in Bilingualism Studies. It provides students with advanced research skills achieved through a specialized research methodology course, writing extensive research papers and, where applicable, conducting thesis related research.
The program will draw upon the expertise of professors from OLBI and from other departments in the Faculty of Arts, and in the faculties of Education and Social Sciences.
Career Opportunities
Career prospects for the graduates of this program are excellent in Canada and abroad. Graduates may find employment in several areas, including the following:
- Teaching ESL or FLS to adults in educational institutions;
- Language planning and evaluation of language policy in government, local/national and international organizations and agencies;
- Working in private sector organizations such as language schools or community-based programs;
- Developing language assessment tools and tests;
- Developing language software.
Options
- MA with thesis;
- MA with research paper.
Both program options will prepare students to pursue further graduate studies at the PhD level in the field.
Bilingual Program
- The program will be offered in English and in French with an equal number of courses in each language;
- Students will be required to take one compulsory course in English and one in French;
- The electives can be taken in either language.
If you are unsure of your proficiency level in your second official language, please email OLBI’s Language Testing Services at L2test@uOttawa.ca to request an assessment.
All applicants must have an excellent knowledge of either English or French and at least a receptive knowledge of the other language. However, in accordance with University of Ottawa policy, students have the right to produce their work in French or in English. Graduates of French immersion programs who are capable of studying in both official languages and motivated to maintain their French language skills are strongly encouraged to apply.
Financial Support
Research assistantships are available from the OLBI Research Chairs and other OLBI professors to sponsor students registered in the program with the required academic profiles and research interests. Teaching assistantships may also be offered to qualified registered students.
Admission Information
| Studies | Session for admission |
| Fall | |
| Full-time | X |
| Part-time | X |
Who should apply to this program?
Students with an honours Bachelor of Arts in:
- Second Language Teaching / Didactique des langues secondes (or its equivalent);
- Applied Linguistics;
- A related discipline.
Students with a three-year Bachelor's degree in
- Applied Linguistics, or a related discipline, in addition to a university-level, university-administered advanced certificate in TESOL (Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages), representing a minimum of 30 credits.
For further information, including the application form, consult the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Courses
Course Offerings (2017-2018)
Fall 2017
BIL5101 Issues in Bilingualism Studies
Theories of language and language learning. Social factors, processes, conditions, and learner factors in second language learning. Bilingualism, multilingualism, and cross-cultural communication. Political, social, and cultural factors in planning and implementing language policy. Language planning and policy evaluation. Research applications in these areas.
Professor: Nikolay Slavkov
Mondays, 5:30-8:30
BIL5103 Assessment of Second Language Competence
Theoretical issues related to the assessment of second language skills. Descriptive frameworks and standards for testing receptive and productive language skills. Assessing knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. Construction of language tests. Development of rating scales. Review and critique of commercial language tests.
Professor: Beverly Baker
Tuesdays, 2:30-5:30
BIL5507 Planification et politique linguistiques au Canada
Historique du bilinguisme officiel au Canada et questions de l'heure. Plurilinguisme individuel et sociétal dans le cadre d'un bilinguisme officiel. Marginalisation, minorisation, glottophagie et classes sociales. Relations fédérales-provinciales et les questions linguistiques. Développement sociétal et langues.
Professor: Sylvie Lamoureux
Thursdays, 5:00-8:00
Winter 2018
BIL5120 Multilingualism (Special Topics in Bilingualism Studies)
Overview of selected topics in multilingualism from interdisciplinary perspectives. Examination of typologies of multilingual development as well as policies at the family, educational and society levels that may promote or hinder multilingualism. Juxtaposition of Canada’s complex linguistic landscape of two official and multiple heritage and Indigenous languages with other multilingual societies around the world. Discussion of the notions of language contact, shift, maintenance and loss in light of recent theoretical constructs and practices, such as translanguaging, plurilingualism, dominant language constellations, and multi-competence. Investigation of conceptual and practical differences between monolingual, bilingual and multilingual norms.
Professor: Nikolay Slavkov
Thursdays, 2:30-5:30
BIL5502 Méthodologies de recherche en études du bilinguisme
Approches méthodologiques à la planification d’études pour les études sur l'apprentissage et l’usage des langues secondes. Application des méthodes statistiques. Approches expérimentales et quasi-expérimentales. Méthodes quantitatives et qualitatives.
Professor : Jérémie Séror
Wednesdays, 5:30-8:30
BIL5504 Tendances et enjeux de la recherche en apprentissage des langues assisté par ordinateur
Analyse critique des tendances et enjeux de la recherche portant sur la conception, l’intégration, l’utilisation et l’évaluation du multimédia et des technologies de l’information et de la communication en apprentissage des langues assisté par ordinateur (ALAO). Vue d’ensemble des méthodes innovantes de recherche et développement sur les outils ainsi que techniques utilisées en ALAO.
Professor : Marie-Josée Hamel
Mondays, 4:30-7:30
All Courses
Please note that not all courses listed are offered every year. Students should consult the list of courses offered in a given academic year.
BIL5101 Issues in Bilingualism Studies
Theories of language and language learning. Social factors, processes, conditions, and learner factors in second language learning. Bilingualism, multilingualism, and cross-cultural communication. Political, social, and cultural factors in planning and implementing language policy. Language planning and policy evaluation. Research applications in these areas.
BIL5501 Questions en études du bilinguisme
Théorie du langage et de l'apprentissage des langues. Facteurs sociaux, processus, environnement et caractéristiques individuelles en apprentissage des langues secondes. Bilinguisme, plurilinguisme et communication interculturelle. Facteurs politiques, sociaux et culturels en planification et politique linguistiques. Évaluation de la planification et des politiques linguistiques. Mobilisation des résultats de recherche dans ces domaines.
BIL5102 Research Methodology in Bilingualism Studies
Approaches to the design of studies, data collection instruments and procedures and analysis of data in second language learning and use. The role of statistics. Experimental and quasi-experimental methods. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
BIL5502 Méthodologies de recherche en études du bilinguisme
Approches méthodologiques à la planification d’études pour les études sur l'apprentissage et l’usage des langues secondes. Application des méthodes statistiques. Approches expérimentales et quasi-expérimentales. Méthodes quantitatives et qualitatives.
BIL5103 Assessment of Second Language Competence
Theoretical issues related to the assessment of second language skills. Descriptive frameworks and standards for testing receptive and productive language skills. Assessing knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. Construction of language tests. Development of rating scales. Review and critique of commercial language tests.
BIL5503 Évaluation de la compétence en langue seconde
Questions théoriques se rapportant à l'évaluation des habiletés en langue seconde. Cadres descriptifs et standards d'évaluation des habiletés langagières réceptives et productive. Évaluation de la connaissance lexicale et grammaticale. Construction de tests de langue. Développement d'échelles de mesure. Revue et critique des tests commerciaux.
BIL5104 Trends and Issues in Research on Technology-Assisted Language Learning
Critical analysis of trends and issues in research on the design, integration, use and evaluation of multimedia and information and communication technologies in adult second language learning. Overview of innovative research and development methods, and tools and unique techniques used in Computer-assisted language learning (CALL).
BIL5504 Tendances et enjeux de la recherche en apprentissage des langues assisté par ordinateur
Analyse critique des tendances et enjeux de la recherche portant sur la conception, l’intégration, l’utilisation et l’évaluation du multimédia et des technologies de l’information et de la communication en apprentissage des langues assisté par ordinateur (ALAO). Vue d’ensemble des méthodes innovantes de recherche et développement sur les outils ainsi que techniques utilisées en ALAO.
BIL5105 Electronic Corpora in Second Language Learning
The use of electronic corpora in second language learning. Corpus linguistics. Techniques and tools (taggers, concordancers, etc.) enabling the gathering, annotation and analysis of electronic corpora in second language acquisition research. Computer-aided analysis of language learners’ written and oral production errors. Impact of learner corpora on the design of language learning resources. Use of online French, English and bilingual corpus resources for language learning.
BIL5505 Corpus électroniques en apprentissage des langues secondes
Utilisation de corpus électroniques en apprentissage des langues secondes. Linguistique de corpus. Techniques et outils (étiqueteurs, concordanciers, etc.) permettant la collecte, l’annotation et l’analyse de corpus électroniques pour la recherche en acquisition de la langue seconde. Analyse assistée par ordinateur d’erreurs dans les corpus écrits et oraux d’apprenants de langue. Impact des corpus d’apprenants sur la conception de ressources pour l’apprentissage des langues. Utilisation de ressources en ligne: corpus français, anglais et bilingues, pour l’apprentissage des langues.
BIL5106 Adult Second/Foreign Language Skills Development
Critical examination of the theoretical principles underlying learning of the major language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) and component skills (grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation). Survey of research and practice related to learning language skills.
BIL5506 Développement des compétences en langue seconde/étrangère chez les adultes
Exploration critique des principes théoriques sous-jacents à l’apprentissage des compétences langagières (écouter, lire, parler, écrire) et linguistiques (grammaire, vocabulaire et prononciation). Examen des recherches et des pratiques liées au développement des compétences en langue seconde.
BIL5107 Language Planning and Policy in Canada
History and current concerns of official bilingualism in Canada. Multilingualism within an official bilingualism framework. Marginalisation, linguicism, and social class. Federal-provincial relationships and language issues. Language and social development.
BIL5507 Planification et politique linguistiques au Canada
Historique du bilinguisme officiel au Canada et questions de l'heure. Plurilinguisme individuel et sociétal dans le cadre d'un bilinguisme officiel. Marginalisation, minorisation, glottophagie et classes sociales. Relations fédérales-provinciales et les questions linguistiques. Développement sociétal et langues.
BIL5108 The Politics of Language, Power and Identity: Canada and the World
Exploration of the politics of language, language policy, planning and practice of “global” languages in a second, minority or foreign language teaching contexts. Critical evaluation of social control of language use and through language. Macro (national) to micro (classroom) contexts of teaching. Reproduction, resistance and transformation of sociopolitical and linguistic ideologies and practices.
BIL5508 Langue, pouvoir et politiques identitaires : le Canada et le Monde
Exploration des politiques liées à la langue, politique linguistique, planification et pratique des langues « mondiales » en contextes d'enseignement de langue seconde, minoritaire ou étrangère . Évaluation critique du contrôle social de l’usage de la langue et par la langue. Contextes macro (national) à micro (la salle de classe) de l'enseignement. Reproduction, résistance et transformation de diverses idéologies et identités sociopolitiques et linguistiques.
BIL5120 SPECIALTOPICS IN BILINGUALISM STUDIES
In-depth study of a selected topic in bilingualism studies.
BIL5520 THÈMES CHOISIS EN ÉTUDES DU BILINGUISME
Étude approfondie d’un thème choisi en études du bilinguisme.
BIL5920 SPECIAL TOPICS IN BILINGUALISM STUDIES / THÈMES CHOISIS EN ÉTUDES DU BILINGUISME
In-depth study of a selected topic in bilingualism studies. / Étude approfondie d’un thème choisi en études du bilinguisme.
BIL7990 Projet de thèse/Thesis Proposal
Projet individuel. Examen critique approfondi de documents dont la liste est établie conjointement par l’étudiant et le directeur ou la directrice de thèse. Rédaction d’un projet de thèse soumis à l’évaluation de deux autres membres du corps professoral. Noté : S (satisfaisant)/ NS (non satisfaisant). Préalables : BIL5501/BIL5101 et BIL5502/BIL5102 / Individual Project. Critical review of a set of readings selected jointly by student and advisor. Drafting of a thesis proposal. Submission of the thesis proposal for evaluation by two other professors. Graded: S (Satisfactory)/NS (Not satisfactory). Prerequisites: BIL5501/BIL5101 and BIL5502/BIL5102.
BIL7998 Mémoire/Research Paper
Mémoire d’une longueur de 12,500 mots (sans compter la bibliographie) préparé sous la direction d’un ou deux membres du corps professoral choisis en accord avec la personne responsable des études supérieures. Le mémoire est évalué par le ou les personnes qui l’ont dirigé et un autre membre du corps professoral. Noté: S (satisfaisant) / NS (non satisfaisant). Préalables : toutes les exigences de cours. // Research paper (about 12,500 words, excluding the bibliography) prepared under the direction of one or two professors chosen in consultation with the director of graduate studies. The paper is evaluated by the (co-)advisor(s) and another professor. Graded: S (Satisfactory)/NS (Not satisfactory). Prerequisites: All course requirements.
BIL7999 Thèse de maîtrise/Master’s Thesis
Préalable: BIL7990 / Prerequisite: BIL7990
Contact Information
Marie-Josée Hamel
Director of Graduate Studies – OLBI
Hamelin Hall, room 105
613-562-5800 ext. 3994