EDF5631 · Bi/multilingual education

Overview

This unit builds your capacity to identify fundamental principles underpinning the effectiveness of bi/multilingual education in a range of contexts. You will examine the development and maintenance of bi/multilingualism and bi/multiliteracy in formal learning environments, and how different kinds of environments impact on language acquisition. Sociocultural, political and educational aspects of bilingual programs are explored in local and global contexts. The unit covers different approaches, including English as a medium of instruction (EMI), Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) one-way and two-way immersion programs, and heritage bi/multilingual education. In all cases, the focus is on language enrichment, or on learning English alongside other languages.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. explain the political, sociocultural and organisational issues surrounding bi/multilingualism and bi/multilingual education
2. demonstrate an understanding of how bi/multilingual education impacts on language acquisition
3. critically evaluate political and educational contexts in Australia or in global contexts that impact on the introduction of bi/multilingual programs
4. analyse successful models of bi/multilingual education, and draw on these to determine how you would apply the principles identified to your own language teaching and learning contexts.

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per teaching period comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Usually, you can expect to engage with: • a total of 24 hours of scheduled learning. These will typically include 18-24 hours of on-campus regular directed learning activities, with any remaining hours of scheduled learning delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities and self-directed/independent study OR • a total of 24 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities, and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study^ ^ International students studying in Australia are not permitted to undertake this scheduled learning delivery mode

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.