Successful second run of MOOC - An Introduction to Sociolinguistics: Accents, Attitudes and Identity

Posted on 27 November 2020

Over 3,500 active learners to date on free online course

In July 2020, the Department of Language and Linguistic Science launched the second run of the free-to-access massive open online course (MOOC) An Introduction to Sociolinguistics: Accents, Attitudes and Identity on the platform FutureLearn, following on from the success of its first run in 2019.

The MOOC focuses on sociolinguistic research into accent variation and language attitudes, covering topics including regional accent variation, sociolinguistic methods for investigating language attitudes, and accent bias in the workplace, courtroom and classroom.

LLS staff Dr Claire Childs, Dr Dominic Watt and Dr Sam Hellmuth, and PhD students in Linguistics in the department, Sarah Lapacz and Justin Lo, facilitated the MOOC for the first four weeks after launch in July 2020. Over 5,700 joiners and 2,200 active learners had engaged with the course by the end of that period, but the course is still available to new users (without facilitation) and has now accumulated over 7,700 joiners and over 3,500 active learners in 120+ countries.

The 2020 version of the MOOC included refreshed materials from the 2019 version and new resources, including two new case studies from recent research projects funded by the Economic and Social Research Council: The Use and Utility of Localised Speech Forms in Determining Identity and Accent Bias Britain.

"Even if you have the tiniest interest in the subject, you will soon find you are immersed in this fascinating and all-encompassing course. You will learn more than you thought possible in four weeks."

Margaret H., verified learner, posted 09/08/20 on MOOC review page

"I loved doing this course - from beginning to end it was interesting, exciting, educational and fun. I learned so much and loved the interaction between us learners on the comments section. A very well put together course and easily the most enjoyable one I have taken part in. Would recommend highly."

Valerie K., verified learner, posted 12/09/20 on MOOC review page

"We’ve thoroughly enjoyed working on the MOOC again this year. It’s been fantastic to engage with so many people from around the world and read their stories relating to accents and language attitudes."

Dr Claire Childs, Dept. Language and Linguistic Science, University of York

You can still sign up to the MOOC for six weeks’ free access. Keep an eye out for the 2021 run, too!

The work on the MOOC was funded by the York Impact Accelerator Fund in 2018-19 and 2019-20:

‘Re-framing linguistic research to enhance practice in secondary education: Focus on language attitudes’ (2018-19); PI: Dr Sam Hellmuth; Co-Is: Dr Claire Childs and Prof. Carmen Llamas; MOOC Research Assistant: Dr Sarah Kelly
‘Re-framing linguistic research to enhance secondary education: Consolidation’ (2019-20); PI: Claire Childs; Co-Is: Dr Sam Hellmuth and Prof. Carmen Llamas; MOOC Research Assistants: Sarah Lapacz and Vicki Noble