Research & Development in the section of "Teaching English as a Foreign Language" (TEFL) and Applied Linguistics focus on Applied Linguistics and SLA (Second Language Acquisition), EFL (English as a Foreign Language) Methodology, Computer Assisted & Technology-enhanced Language Learning (CALL & TELL), and Corpus Linguistics. Further areas of expertise are psycholinguistics, bilingualism, content and language integrated learning (CLIL) and language acquisition at primary (elementary) school levels. In addition, the section of Applied Linguistics and EFL methodology co-ordinates the school practice and area & cultural studies (Landeskunde) elements of the curriculum at the Department of English.

TEFL & EFL-Methodology

Components of Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL): They include the concept of method/postmethod, competences, skills, vocabulary teaching, grammar teaching, intercultural learning, teaching literature, media, content and language integrated learning, heterogeneity/differentiation, materials development/evaluation, and testing/assessment. We offer seminars on EFL-Methodology, approaches to SLA, school practice, intercultural learning, bilingualism, language acquisition at primary (elementary) school levels, area & cultural studies and related topics.

Applied Linguistics

Seminars in general (theoretical) & applied linguistics, psycholinguistics, corpus linguistics, SLA research (methodology), bilingualism, concordancing in the Classroom & WebQuests

Technology-Enhanced Language Learning

Seminars on the use of new technologies and the internet in language learning and area & cultural studies, technology-enhanced language learning (TELL) & computer-assisted language learning (CALL).

Technology-Enhanced Language Learning (CALL & TELL) and related issues are the major focus of all activities in the section of Applied Linguistics and Didactics. These include the evaluation of new learning environments, enriched by the new media, as well as R & D on virtual resources and the integration of virtual learning arrangements into language learning curricula.

Part of the profile of this section of the Anglistik in Essen is the continuing co-operation in Council of Europe projects and in European Union sponsored projects, such as LEONARDO, etc. In addition, the head of the section of Applied Linguistics and Didactics  is a member of the Executive Committee of EUROCALL (European Association for Computer Assisted Language Learning); he is also a member of the Executive Council of the Gesellschaft für Angewandte Linguistik (German Association of Applied Linguistics). A large number of publications have resulted from the activities of this section, some of which can be viewed online.

Apart from cooperations with publishers and media production companies, the section of Applied Linguistics and Didactics is involved in additional projects, such as the READERS project dealing with the development of a strategy trainer for reading and text comprehension skills (joint R & D with the Bergische Universität-GH Wuppertal (Prof. Dr. Wolff). This project is financed by the Universitätsverbund Multi Media NRW.

Conferences

The Applied Linguistics and EFL-Methodology Section also organises a variety of events including English-language conferences. In March 2008, in association with the German Association of Applied Linguistics (GAL e.V.), we were proud to host the 15th World Congress of Applied Linguistics (AILA). In November 2010, together with IATEFL / LASIG, we hosted a one-day conference on autonomy in language learning. After two very successful Junior Research Meetings in Groningen, 2007, and Münster, 2010, we, GAL, Anéla, VALS-ASLA and ABLA, were also happy that the third Junior Research Meeting for Applied Linguistics took place at the University of Duisburg-Essen (Campus Essen).  From March 23 until March 25, 2011 over 100 prospect researchers, PhD and Master students in the field of Applied Linguistics engaged in a challenging and co-operative exchange of ideas with fellow researchers and experts alike.

From September 13 until September 15, 2012, together with GMF, we will host the next Bundeskongress Lernerautonomie im Fokus: Kompetenzorientierung, Differenzierung und Handlungsorientierung. For further information on the conference see http://www.uni-due.de/GMF2012/GMF.