Unit Outline

This unit explores the complex relationship between language and culture, and considers both in terms of linguistic and cultural diversity. The unit applies understandings of each to the teaching and learning of language. An emphasis is placed on understanding 'culture' from a range of critical perspectives, and to explore the way in which intercultural communication is at play in English language learning and teaching. Issues of identity, the emergence of 'world Englishes', and the contribution of critical sociolinguistics are considered in relation to the practice of English language learning and teaching

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	demonstrate understanding of how language, culture and identity are inter-connected in the TESOL context
2.	identify key debates around language, culture and diversity in contemporary TESOL practice and theory
3.	critically review key research related to language, culture and diversity in TESOL, drawing implications for contemporary TESOL practice and theory
4.	evaluate contemporary TESOL approaches and strategies with regard to your role in supporting cultural diversity
5.	clearly communicate your perspectives on issues around language, culture and diversity in TESOL according to academic conventions

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Personal Reflection on Language, Culture and Diversity	Week 8	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 2:	Essay or Take Home Test	Week 13	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 3:	Discussion Post and Response	Refer to Assessment Description	0 %

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Personal Reflection on Language, Culture and Diversity

Task Description:

This assignment is a personal reflection on language and culture in relation to English language teaching. You are required to compose an extended written reflection on the way in which you have experienced the interaction of language and culture in the language classroom. You can reflect on the relationship between language and
culture in ELT based on your experience as a teacher and/or a learner. You can use several vignettes/anecdotes as ‘springboards’ for discussion. You are also required to consider the literature on language, culture and society when composing your reflection and to reference the literature using APA.

*NOTE: If you don’t have experience as an English language teacher, please feel free to draw on other experiences where you have engaged with others in ways that might be considered to be ‘cultural’ or where ‘diversity’ is at play. Travel, meeting members of your community, migration, social and public issues are all ways this might happen. If you are at all concerned with finding material that you can use for reflection, please contact the Unit Coordinator via email or phone.

Task Length:

2000 words

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate the qualities of a reflective practitioner by critically reflecting on the impact of your personal experience on thinking about language and culture in a TESOL context	LO1, LO4
2	Demonstrate the qualities of a reflective practitioner by supporting your reflection with evidence (experiential and literature based)	LO1, LO3
3	Discuss issues of language and culture in relation to English language teaching	LO1, LO2
4	Communicate in narrative writing from a personal perspective	LO1, LO5
5	Adherence to academic writing conventions	LO5

Assessment Task 2: Essay or Take Home Test

Task Description:

Please select either the essay or the take home test. You only need to complete ONE of the following.
Essay: You are required to construct an essay that explores issues of language, culture and diversity in a TESOL context. A list of essay questions will be posted no later than week 2 in MyLO. Alternatively, you may construct your own essay question. If you construct your own essay question then you must discuss this with your lecturer (via email) no later than three weeks before the due date.
Take Home Test: The take home test consists of 3 short essays of approximately 660 words each. You will receive the essay questions 7 days prior to the due date via MyLO. As an additional precaution, the essay questions will also be emailed to your UTas email address. You are required to select three questions from a selection of no less than five questions, including a response to a case-study as well as more traditional essay questions. You are expected to include some literature (although not the same amount of literature as the essay, due to time constraints for research) and to reference according to APA. Please note that the feedback provided on the take home test will not be as comprehensive as the feedback for the essay.

Task Length:

2000 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	(Essay) Demonstrate depth of knowledge and understanding of the selected topic area	LO1, LO2, LO4
2	(Essay) Synthesise information from various sources into a united and coherent whole	LO3, LO5
3	(Essay) Examine concepts and issues critically and creatively	LO2, LO3
4	(Essay) Demonstrate comprehensive reading background	LO1, LO2
5	(Essay) Communicate in written expression that adheres to academic writing and appropriate APA style referencing	LO5
6	(Take Home Test) Demonstrate understanding of the issues raised by the essay question	LO1, LO2
7	(Take Home Test) Consider the implications for TESOL teaching practice	LO2, LO3, LO4
8	(Take Home Test) Inclusion of relevant literature	LO2
9	(Take Home Test) Demonstrate a capacity to reflect critically on the issues	LO2, LO3
10	(Take Home Test) Communicate in written expression that adheres to academic writing and appropriate APA style referencing	LO5

Assessment Task 3: Discussion Post and Response

Task Description:

Grounded in your reading so far, provide a definition of ‘culture’ and outline what this understanding of culture might mean for your own practice.
Once you have posted your initial thoughts, please respond to at least one other post from your peers.
I encourage you to draw on the literature in your writing, as a means of developing rigour and depth in your thinking.
This task is designed to support peer feedback processes. As you respond to others, think about challenging, extending and enriching. Sometimes asking questions that prompt further thought may be more effective than providing evaluative comments. I will also provide global feedback.

Task Length:

500 words for your post, no wordcount limit for your responses

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

All readings can be accessed via the Reading List link on the Unit homepage. When seeking sources of evidence to support your assignment work, you will find these a useful starting point. The expectation is that you will go beyond this, taking the initiative to explore further reading in line with your interests and priorities.

Reading Lists provide direct access to all material on unit reading lists in one place. This includes eReadings and items in Reserve. You can access the Reading List for this unit from the link in MyLO, or by going to the Reading Lists page on the University Library website.