EDF5640 - Language, culture and curriculum - 2019

This unit approaches language and literacy curriculum as socially and culturally constructed, and introduces understandings of language teaching and learning as social practice. It explores how issues around language, culture and identities play out in language curriculum and frameworks in particular sociocultural contexts both in Australia and across the globe. It focuses on key issues in the politics of language and literacy education, including how views of language and culture have informed different approaches to, and frameworks for, language teaching and curricula and to language and literacy education in school, higher education and adult education settings in Australia and in students' contexts. It considers bilingualism and multilingualism and English language education in local and global contexts, and it advances new understandings of transcultural and intercultural learning, communication and mobility, including in online learning settings.

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. develop an understanding of language as a social, cultural and political practice
2. critically reflect on how this understanding is relevant to themselves as educators through their identity and experiences
3. understand how sociocultural perspectives apply to language pedagogy
4. develop an understanding of the social, historical and political contexts in which language is shaped in contemporary Australian society across institutional contexts
5. explore ways that language and culture are framed in different curriculum frameworks and policy documents
6. apply understandings gained through reflection and exploration of the issues raised throughout the unit.

Self study (3000 words, 40%)

Context study: Applying theory to practice (5000 words, 60%)

Flexible mode offers a stand-alone online offering that allows students to learn and engage in content and assessment in a supported way. It also provides a face-to-face component of 12 hours over the semester to engage students with the online learning content, which students can attend if they are able and interested.

Minimum total expected workload equals 288 hours per semester comprising:

1. Contact hours for flexible students:
   • 12 contact hours and 24 hours equivalent of online activities over the semester or
   • 36 hours equivalent of online activities over the semester
2. Additional requirements (all students):
   • independent study to meet the minimum required hours per semester

See also Unit timetable information

Required for:

TESOL

Elective for Master of Teaching in:

Early years education

Primary education

Secondary education

Elective for:

Applied linguistics