Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

Students would benefit from attending this module in conjunction with ALC8002: SOCIOLINGUISTICS or with ALC8009 : English in the World: Global and Cross Cultural Issues Surrounding English as a 'Lingua Franca '

Aims

The aims of the module are to enable students to:

•       critically consider issues related to multilingualism (theory and practice) in a range of countries and contexts;
•       develop critical understanding of the relationship between multilingualism, intercultural issues and key concepts such as identity, power and social justice
•       engage critically with the literature on multilingualism, language planning and policy
•       develop critical understanding of the role of language planning and policy in shaping people’s identities, worldviews, and attitudes towards others;
•       reflect on the complexity in their own identities and attitudes towards others, and on their own experiences of multilingualism and interculturality

Multilingualism is an everyday reality in an increasingly globalised world. As it plays an essential role in shaping the intercultural encounters between individuals from different backgrounds, it supports us to reflect on an negotiate our worldviews, identities and attitudes to ‘the other’.
This module examines origins, development and features of multilingualism both as an individual and social phenomenon. It particularly focuses on the relationship between multilingualism, identity, language planning policy and intercultural understanding. Students will critically engage with the intercultural dimension of issues related to multilingualism from an interdisciplinary perspective. As they develop a critical understanding of the complex nature of multilingualism, students will be encouraged to reflect on the complexity in their own identities and attitudes towards others. . Students will also be introduced to on-going research in the field of multilingualism, with a variety of international case studies.

Outline Of Syllabus

Week 1: Module overview (contents, structure, assessment); definitions of multilingualism

Week 2: Multilingualism, language and identity: being multilingual vs being monolingual

Week 3 :Language use: features of multilingualism; code-switching and translanguaging

Week 4: Authenticity, legitimacy and native speakerism in language education

Week 5: Introduction to language planning and policy (LPP)

Week 6: Researching LPP (theory and practice)

Week 7: Linguistic diversity, language rights and heritage language education

Week 8: Multilingualism in research and research proposal preparation

Week 9: Language and power: multilingualism and Linguae Francae

Week 10: Multilingual pedagogies and global citizenship: a case study

Week 11: Drop-in session: Module conclusion and Q&A
Summary of key issues and assessment questions and answer session

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of this module, participants should have developed:

• A critical understanding of the complex nature multilingualism (theory and practice);
•       A critical understanding of the relationship between language and identity; its complexities and implications in different contexts (e.g., language learning and teaching);
•       A critical understanding of notions of multilingualism and status relate to real world issues in society, communication and education
•       A critical understanding of how and why language policies are created and how they impact on language use
•       An understanding of the methodological approaches that can be applied in this area

Intended Skill Outcomes

Intended Subject-Specific Skills Outcomes:

By the end of this module, students should be able to:


• Demonstrate critical understanding of issues related to multilingualism and language policy and planning in international contexts;
Identify issues of interdisciplinary character;
• Critically evaluate scholarly research (empirical and conceptual) within the field of multilingualism;
•       Identify and solve problems inherent within the field of multilingualism;
•       Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, within an intercultural and multilingual setting;


Key Skill Outcomes

By the end of this module, students should be able to:
•       Work on ideas and issues independently and as part a group;
•       Communicate and present ideas effectively through class presentation and writing;
•       Undertake a search and synthetic review of research literature;
•       Analyse and evaluate empirical research;
•       Design independent research using a range of resources including online ones (e.g., online databases)

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures provide an introduction to the weekly content, establish a basic level of understanding of the topic, provide opportunities for discussion and personal reflections, and signal areas for individual further study and essential and further reading. Group activities are often linked to pre-class weekly reading

Structured Guided Learning activities provide students with weekly opportunities to consolidate learning through guided tasks linked to the weekly topic.

Independent study will enable wider reading, further personal self-reflection and assignment preparation.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

All skills and knowledge, including the ability to critically evaluate research, to identify gaps in the field of research, to identify links between research and practice, and design a research project, will be assessed through an extended research proposal.

General Notes

N/A