Universität Wien

122251 AR Advanced Course in Linguistics (2022S)

Controversies about Contemporary English

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work
MIXED
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Please check here and/or in Moodle for updated info on starting date and mode.

  • Friday 04.03. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Friday 18.03. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Friday 25.03. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Friday 01.04. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Friday 08.04. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Friday 29.04. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Friday 06.05. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Friday 13.05. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Friday 20.05. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Friday 27.05. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Friday 03.06. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Friday 10.06. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Friday 17.06. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19
  • Friday 24.06. 10:15 - 11:45 Raum 4 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-EG-19

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The unprecedented global spread of English has given rise to important questions and controversies as to what "English" actually now means to different people, in different contexts.
The focus of this course will be on a critical reading of publications dealing with issues concerning the role of English in today's world, on which (applied) linguists take very different positions. Based on these readings, participants will be asked to evaluate the arguments put forward by various scholars, and to investigate and explain their own reactions to these controversies.
We will engage with current debates in English as a first/second/foreign language, World Englishes and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). Themes to be investigated will include: 'English' in its historical, social and political context; notions of ‘real English’ and standard language ideology; the 'ownership' of English, linguistic imperialism, approaches to ELF theorizing, the role of English norms in high-stakes encounters such as asylum procedures and interpreting, and implications arising from all of these for the description and teaching of English.
The course will be designed to focus on participants' own presentations and class discussion, based on a critical reading of relevant texts. The objective of this course is to familiarize participants with both the relevant theoretical background underlying these issues and their implications for the description of English as well as for language policy and pedagogy.
In addition to the engagement with important issues, this course should also prove helpful to participants for the development of their own skills in arguing their case and in academic writing.

Assessment and permitted materials

Students are assessed on the basis of assignments, class participation, oral presentation and discussion, and final essay.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Assessment is based on:
*) class participation, reading and assignments (one third)
*) oral presentation with discussion (one third)
*) final essay (one third)
The minimum requirements for passing the course are:
(a) regular class attendance (max. 2 absences)
(b) giving the oral presentation (on set date)
(c) taking part in class discussion
(d) handing in the final essay (on time)
(e) attaining 60 of the maximum of 100 points.
The pass rate is > 60%.

Final grades & points achieved: ‘1’: 90-100; ‘2’: 80-89; ‘3’: 70-79; ‘4’: 60-69; ‘5’: 0-59

Examination topics

see above

Reading list

References and readings for specific controversies will be provided in class and on Moodle. These will be discussed and decided on at the beginning of the term; they will include parts of _Controversies in Applied Linguistics_ ed. by Barbara Seidlhofer; Oxford University Press 2003 and _Global Englishes_ by Jennifer Jenkins; Routledge 2014.

Association in the course directory

Studium: MA 812 [2]; UF MA 046/507
Code/Modul: MA M04, MA M05, UF MA 4B
Lehrinhalt: 12-0260

Last modified: Th 03.03.2022 00:05