LANGTCHG 761 : Sociolinguistics

Arts

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines sociolinguistic concepts relevant to understanding influences on language use at the level of individuals, social groups and institutions. Enables students to acquire an advanced understanding of social and regional dialects, perceived differences in the market status of particular languages, the use of sociolects and ethnolects in the media and other public domains, and policies and practices concerning migrant and heritage language maintenance.

Course Overview

This course introduces students to concepts related to sociolinguistics that are relevant to the learning and teaching of foreign languages. These include social and regional dialects, perceived differences in the perceived status of particular languages and dialects in educational and professional settings, the maintenance of migrant languages, and issues relating to power and status in communication. In discussing course topics and readings, students are expected to draw on their experience learning and teaching languages in different cultural contexts. While course readings may often refer to the teaching of English, this course is relevant to the teaching of any language and students are encouraged to discuss the particular language they teach in assignments. It is not unusual that students on this course teach multiple languages throughout their teaching careers. As researchers in applied linguistics frequently need to consider how factors such as power relations, ethnolinguistic identity and cultural differences may impact the research process, this course also examines issues we need to be alert to when undertaking a research project in applied linguistics or when critically reading published research.

Some students on the course are currently practising language teachers and may be located in a variety of locations in New Zealand or abroad. Students have the opportunity to learn about cultural differences in different teaching contexts through regular online interaction with peers.

Course Requirements

Restriction: LANGTCHG 749

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 6: Communication

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify, explain and evaluate social, economic and political factors that influence the formation of values attached to particular languages and dialects at individual and societal levels. (Capability 1, 2, 4 and 6)
  2. Articulate and discuss factors that contribute to our perception of what constitutes the appropriate or correct use of language by teachers and learners in particular communicative contexts. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6)
  3. Understand and explain how social factors influence how we use language in different contexts. (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 6)
  4. Articulate and discuss the importance of languages and dialects to the formation and preservation of identities at individual and societal levels. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments/assessments 100% Group & Individual Coursework

Next Offered

2025 & 2026

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week on each 15 point course that they are enrolled in, including class time and personal study and assignment preparation.

On a weekly basis, you will have a 1-2 hour lecture, one hour of practical work (student-student interaction online) and/or a one-hour live class seminar with the lecturer. You will be expected to spend the remaining hours each week reading and thinking about the content of readings, lectures and tutorials, and working on assignments/assessments. This could mean, for instance, four hours doing readings and thinking about course content, and three hours working on assignments. The use of time depends on the requirements at any stage in the course, however, and you are likely to spend more time on assignment preparation closer to submission dates. 

Delivery Mode

Online

Attendance is recommended at scheduled online activities including seminars to complete components of the course.
The course will  include live online events  [group discussions/seminar]. These will not be recorded due to considerations of privacy and confidentiality. However, any live event will be held at 5pm/17:00 (NZT) so that students located in other time zones have a better chance of attending. The lecturer is aware that not all students can attend all live events due to personal commitments and attendance is not compulsory. 
The course is fully online and no campus attended is included. Students can be located anywhere. 
Study material will be released progressively throughout the course.
This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

This course is available for delivery to students studying remotely outside NZ in 2022.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

All reading materials  (articles and book chapters) for this course will be made available online once the course starts. There is no set text for this course. 
It is essential that students enrolled in this course have access to a reliable computer and a good Internet connection. 

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Nothing in particular was mentioned. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 24/10/2024 08:14 a.m.