It involves Applied Linguistics which is teaching and learning language and languages, 
and discourse studies which is looking at how language is used in society.
Applied linguists focus on the performance, how we use language actually. 
What do we do with language?
Coming to terms with all the ways in which language acts on our environment and acts on us.
Our program is unique in that it brings together traditional applied linguistics, which is textual analysis, 
Critical discourse analysis, learning second language teaching, language policy and planning,
Language assessment and testing, bilingualism, all of this is housed in one department. 
We have some of the most interesting teachers that I've encountered in academic career.
One of my passions is developing courses in which students can do exciting projects.
I'm not the type of exam person you know, study this, memorize it, write the exam and then forget it the next day.
I want students to develop skills that they can then take away and use.
Most recently in a third year course I did, which is about second language acquisition, 
We actually got to interview ESL students, and incorporate that interview into our essay, 
Which I found incredibly interesting, I was the one that was doing the research. So that was really great. 
Well there's always the academic path, for those who want to become teachers in higher education institutions. 
We have a very strong Master's Degree here. 
If you're interested in how people teach language, how people learn language, 
A lot of people in my program are going into speech pathology. They want to help people speak better. 
Any major kind of writing intensive job out there be it government, or non-profit NGOs.
We have people who work as writing coaches for the government, for private companies, for NGOs, 
and we have a lot of former students who work as writing consultants, learning counselors, education specialists.
I have students that are now working as professionals in testing areas, in the U.K. in the Gulf, in the United States
and these are very high, they're earning much more than I am!
Students have an opportunity to choose from such a variety of fields here, 
So anyone that is interested in language, what it is, how it works, what it does, 
Would find a home, a very comfortable and interesting and stimulating home, in Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies. 
