Master of Language and Culture

Summary

Study the AUT Master of Language and Culture and further your understanding of multilingualism, cultural competency, discourse, language education, translation and interpreting.

Unique in New Zealand, this new master’s degree provides a fresh and flexible approach to applied and sociolinguistics. You conduct in-depth research and develop high-level reflective, critical, analytical and research tools in your chosen field of language and culture.

The Master of Language and Culture is suitable for professionals and graduates with a background in languages, applied and sociolinguistics, education, translation and interpreting.

What you study

You can choose papers related to your area of interest:

• Language teaching and learning (including TESOL)
• Multilingualism, translanguaging and diversity
• Intercultural communication and competence
• Research methodology
• Language and culture analysis
• Language policy and planning
• Translation
• Interpreting
• Discourse studies
• Sociolinguistics
• Language and literacy education
• Digital literacies
• The languages you have proficiency in (your home language or those learned at school or university)

A feature of the degree is the opportunity to draw on students’ own linguistic backgrounds in a specific project paper designed to be assessed multilingually, including (but not exclusive to) Samoan, Maori, Cook Islands Maori, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, English and New Zealand Sign Language.

Classes are led by applied and sociolinguists who are national and international leaders in their areas of expertise. You should discuss your paper choice and study sequence with the programme leader before enrolling in papers.

Complete the following papers

• CLSY801 Language and Culture Research Methods (15 points)
• CLSY802 Multilingualism, Diversity and Intercultural Communication (15 points)

Optional papers

• CLSY800 Reading Paper (15 points)
• CLSY803 Project: Language and Culture (30 points)
• EDUC841 Adult Literacy Contemporary Perspectives (30 points)
• LING810 Language Analysis (15 points)
• LING812 Discourse Analysis (15 points)
• LING814 Special Topic in Applied Language Studies (15 points)
• LNGT801 The Language Learner (15 points)
• LNGT802 Curriculum Design and Assessment (15 points)
• LNGT900 Contemporary Approaches and Issues in Language Teaching (30 points)
• TRIN801 Interpreting: A Critical Approach (30 points)
• TRIN802 Translation: A Critical Approach (30 points)

Complete a thesis or dissertation

• CLSY987 Master of Language and Culture Dissertation (60 points)
• CLSY989 Master of Language and Culture Thesis (120 points)

You need to complete 60 points from papers before you start your thesis (or 120 points if you choose the 60-point dissertation).

Career opportunities

With the growth of linguistic and cultural diversity, there’s an urgent demand for graduates who can analyse and apply their advanced professional practice and research to our changed societal conditions.

An advanced understanding of multilingualism and intercultural communication is required in many fields, including:

• Language teaching and education
• Language and cultural policy analysis
• Interpreting (including NZ Sign Language Interpreting)
• Translation
• Research
• Management
• Industry training
• Human resources
• Diplomacy
• NGO positions