Aims

The aims of the module are to enable students to:

•       critically consider issues related to multilingualism (theory and practice) in a range of countries and contexts;
•       develop critical understanding of the relationship between multilingualism, intercultural issues and key concepts such as identity, power and social justice
•       engage critically with the literature on multilingualism, language planning and policy
•       develop critical understanding of the role of language planning and policy in shaping people’s identities, worldviews, and attitudes towards others;
•       reflect on the complexity in their own identities and attitudes towards others, and on their own experiences of multilingualism and interculturality

Multilingualism is an everyday reality in an increasingly globalised world. As it plays an essential role in shaping the intercultural encounters between individuals from different backgrounds, it supports us to reflect on an negotiate our worldviews, identities and attitudes to ‘the other’.
This module examines origins, development and features of multilingualism both as an individual and social phenomenon. It particularly focuses on the relationship between multilingualism, identity, language planning policy and intercultural understanding. Students will critically engage with the intercultural dimension of issues related to multilingualism from an interdisciplinary perspective. As they develop a critical understanding of the complex nature of multilingualism, students will be encouraged to reflect on the complexity in their own identities and attitudes towards others. . Students will also be introduced to on-going research in the field of multilingualism, with a variety of international case studies.

Outline Of Syllabus

Week-by-week outline of module:

Week 1
Module objectives; introduction to contents and structure of the module; definitions of multilingualism

Week 2
Multilingualism, language and identity: being multilingual vs being monolingual

Week 3
Language use: features of multilingualism; code-switching and translanguaging

Week 4
Authenticity, legitimacy and native speakerism in language education

Week 5
Introduction to language planning and policy (LPP)

Week 6
Researching LPP

Week 7
Linguistic diversity, language rights and heritage language education

Week 8
Multilingualism in research and research proposal preparation

Week 9
Language and power: multilingualism and Linguae Francae

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lecture materials will introduce new topics each week, and will facilitate structured guided learning, in the form of related activities, reading tasks and online discussion. Synchronous online sessions will enable further group work, discussion and reflection in relation to each topic. A reflective learning journal will enable students to log, and reflect on, their learning activities each week.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

All skills and knowledge, including the ability to critically evaluate research, to identify gaps in the field of research, to identify links between research and practice, and design a research project, will be assessed through an extended research proposal.