2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

EDUC5049M Education, Language and Society

30 Credits Class Size: 60

Module manager: Professor Magdalena Kubanyiova
Email: m.kubanyiova@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module will introduce you to selected contemporary debates in sociolinguistics and language education in relation to broader societal questions of diversity, justice and inclusion. You will reflect on language needs of a diverse range of people with an emphasis on those from multilingual and minoritised backgrounds, develop understandings of language ideologies that underpin societal attitudes and educational opportunities, and examine communication practices in diverse educational spaces. The module is designed to be flexible to reflect the School of Education’s latest international research in language education and to respond to the module participants’ specific sociocultural and educational settings. The content is curated to introduce you to ethnographic, discursive, narrative and artistic approaches to language education research. It will equip you with methodological and analytical tools to conduct your own small-scale original data-based project as part of assessment. This module is particularly suitable for students with a future ambition to make a substantial contribution to knowledge, policy or practice through further research (e.g. PhD).

Objectives

On completion of this module, you will be able to develop an understanding of the scope and remit of language research in relation to education and broader societal issues, such as diversity, inclusion, justice, global movement and digitisation. You will evaluate social, ethical and political frameworks in current research in sociolinguistics, language teaching, language teacher education, language in education and language policy. You will critically examine sociolinguistically-informed understandings of language. The module tasks will enable you to develop methodological and analytical tools for an independent systematic inquiry into selected aspects of research at the intersection of education, language and society, with a particular emphasis on ethnographic, narrative, discursive and artistic approaches. The module tasks will encourage you to reflect on implications for language pedagogy and policy in your own educational setting.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module you will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Develop understanding of the potential of sociolinguistically-informed theories of language to addressing educational needs of a diverse range of people, including children, young people and adults from multilingual and minoritised backgrounds
2. Develop theoretical and methodological tools to examine communication practices in diverse spaces of formal and informal education
3. Develop knowledge of sociolinguistically- and ethically-informed principles for designing an original empirical piece of inquiry into relevant aspects of education, language and society.

Skills Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of the module you will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
1. Make well-informed, context-appropriate and independent decisions about relevant areas of future educational inquiry (including your own)
2. Identify, organise and manage a diverse range of theoretical and empirical sources

Syllabus

Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
Supervision 1 0.5 0.5
Lecture 10 2 20
Seminar 1 2 2
Independent online learning hours 100
Private study hours 177.5
Total Contact hours 22.5
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 300

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

* Written feedback on portfolio tasks
* Written feedback on assignment outlines
* Oral tutor feedback in weekly sessions
* Oral peer feedback in weekly practical session

Methods of Assessment

Coursework
Assessment type Notes % of formal assessment
In-course Assessment . 20
In-course Assessment . 80
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 100

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading List

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 21/06/2024

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team