This course aims to introduce students to an in-depth study of a particular theoretical framework or issue in the area of discourse studies. The selected topic may vary from time to time, with a focus either on a theory/framework (for example, intercultural/ cross-linguistic/interlanguage pragmatics, conversation analysis, gender and discourse) or on an issue (for example, business discourse, classroom discourse, mediated discourse). Regardless of the approach or issue selected, students will be encouraged to compare and criticize the alternative approaches to the study of discourse, to collect and analyse authentic discourse data against different frameworks, and to apply the theory/framework to facilitate effective interpersonal or intercultural communication whenever possible.