LSMLMGR-Language and Migration

Module Provider: English Language and Applied Linguistics
Number of credits: 30 [15 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0

Email: tony.capstick@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

In this module students will explore the role of language in migration by focusing on the multiple and complex ways that migration has been sustained and constrained through language use for centuries.

Students will be introduced to a range of theories from sociolinguistics, sociology and education studies and learn to apply these theories to different contexts of migration across the world.

Among the topics covered in the module are multilingualism and mobility, globalisation and language policy etc.

Aims:

This module aims to equip students with the theoretical and analytical tools to analyse the role of language in different forms of migration. It enables students to reflect critically on language and power in economic migration and forced migration and encourages students to identify the role of language in broader debates about the impact of migration on national and international policies such as international development, global security and education. Students will learn how to apply their findings to the way language is used to construct migrants in the media and how this effects our understandings of asylum, immigration and social cohesion.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

• describe and explain key theories of sociolinguistics, education studies and discourse analysis relevant to the analysis of migration. These include linguistic ethnography, New Literacy Studies and Critical Discourse Analysis;


• analyse authentic texts, conversations and social practices in order to identify how migrants use language in their migration trajectories as well as how migrants are constructed in a range of settings such as in the media, in international agencies such as the EU and the UN, and on social media;


• conduct research on language and new migration using a variety of text based and ethnographic approaches to the ethical collection, selection and analysis of data from naturally occurring language use;


• apply the findings from research on language and migration to discussions and debates about the effects of migration on education and literacy, immigration and integration policy, globalisation, and social and economic equality.  

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:

1. Multilingualism and mobility


2. Empires and colonial language policy


3. Globalisation and translanguaging


4. Home languages and multicultural identities


5. Literacy, power and immigration


6. Forced migration and social cohesion


7. Multilingualism, emotion and foreign language learning


8. Higher education and international language testing


9. A plurilingual EU?


10. World Englishes and transnationalism

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Interactive lectures, small group discussions, online discussions, project work.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

1)         Students will write one paper of around 3000-3,500 words on a set topic. 80%

2)         Students will take a multiple choice set exercise as a test.

In addition, students will produce an annotated bibliography worth 10 credits.

Relative percentage of coursework: 100%

Formative assessment methods:

Students will receive on-going feedback from the instructor and from other students in the form of comments on their reflective blog posts.  

Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A mark of 50% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

Resubmission of coursework by 21 August in the year the course is taken.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 10 April 2019