1999 Arts Handbook - Bachelor of Arts (Languages)

Bachelor of Arts (Languages)

General information
Objectives of the BA(Languages) degree

General information

Course code: 1366
Coordinator: Professor Philip Thomson

Objectives of the BA(Languages) degree

In a multicultural Australia which is carefully reviewing its relation to Asia and the rest of the world, languages play an increasingly important role in everyday communication and in defining Australia. Through the Bachelor of Arts (Languages) the university recognises the importance for the people who are to function in the global, multicultural setting of the twenty-first century of having a deep knowledge of languages, both as systems and in their socio-cultural contexts. The proposed program will attract students who wish to develop skills and experience in second language acquisition and communication that can also be utilised in subsequently learning/studying other languages and in careers requiring highly developed language and communication skills in Australia and overseas.
Students completing the degree should be able to:

function effectively in their target languages;
understand the role of language in society;
be familiar with critical aspects of language policy;
assess a variety of strategies for teaching and acquiring second languages; and
work with 'contrastive' and differing approaches to the study of languages