LIN4050 - Developing language maintenance programs

Leader: Dr Margaret Florey

Offered

Clayton First semester 2007 (Day)
Clayton First semester 2007 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

This unit provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare curriculum and develop and implement language maintenance programs. Students are introduced to the range of language programs which have been developed within communities and in institutional frameworks to reverse language shift or maintain or renew endangered languages. An awareness of socio-political issues is acquired through locating language maintenance activities within the framework of international language planning and language policy processes. The seminar approach combines lectures with small group (or on-line) discussions and practical exercises.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students should have acquired the skills in curriculum development necessary to establish language programs, have gained familiarity with the range of language maintenance programs in use internationally, and have an understanding of language policy and language planning processes. Students should be able to evaluate language programs appropriate to particular language endangerment settings internationally, demonstrate an understanding of the stages in curriculum development, and apply knowledge of programs to new situations to select an appropriate model. They should be able to access appropriate source materials, analyse and interpret texts, apply key concepts to new data, develop an in-depth and critical knowledge of the literature in this field and apply this knowledge in formulating a proposal to develop a language maintenance program. Students should be able to present their results in discussion forums in small groups (on campus)/on line discussion (off campus) and demonstrate advanced skills in research essay writing (including planning, arguing on the basis of evidence, and documenting), and engage in team work and critical academic discussion of information and argument.

Assessment

Critical review (1250 words):30%; Research bibliography (500 words): 10%; Research proposal (750 words): 15%; Research essay (2000 words): 45%.

Contact hours

2 hour seminar per week

Prohibitions

LIN 3050