Bilingualism

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

170 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject examine the phenomenon of bi/multilingualism, from individual and societal perspectives. It enables students to understand the language choices made by speakers in bilingual or multilingual settings, the role of language contact in language change, the relationship between language and cognition and the psychological and societal factors influencing language acquisition, language maintenance and language loss. It also considers educational and political issues associated with bi/multilingualism, and familiarizes students with a range of institutional models whereby citizens can be encouraged to successfully learn and use two or more languages in their daily lives.

On successful completion of this subject, students should have:

• gained an understanding of bilingualism, both as an individual and as a societal phenomenon;
• become familiar with linguistic, sociolinguistic, psycholinguistic, educational and political issues associated with bilingualism;
• gained an understanding of bilingual education.

• A 3000-word essay due at the end of the semester [60%]
• 2 x 1000-word class papers due mid-semester and at the end of the semester [20% each]

Bilingualism: An Advanced Resource Book (Ng Bee Chin and Wigglesworth, Gillian) Routledge (2007).

Additional Reading Pack to be provided by lecturer.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject should:

• have developed skills in abstracting theory from practice;
• be able to identify unstated assumptions determining an argument;
• gain formed judgments from conflicting evidence;
• have become open to new ideas and possibilities;
• have improved their oral and written communication.

Subject offered as both online and on-campus. Some restrictions on student visa holders apply. Please contact the subject coordinator for more information.