Course Title: Language and Society

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Language and Society

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
LANG1318	RMIT University Vietnam	Undergraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face	Viet1 2021, Viet2 2021, Viet1 2022, Viet2 2022, Viet1 2023, Viet2 2023, Viet1 2024
LANG1318	RMIT University Vietnam	Undergraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Internet	Viet2 2024
LANG1318	RMIT University Vietnam	Undergraduate	840H School of Communication and Design	Face-to-Face	Viet1 2019, Viet3 2019, Viet2 2020
LANG1318	RMIT University Vietnam	Undergraduate	850T School of Languages and English	Face-to-Face	Viet1 2018
LANG1325	City Campus	Undergraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2022, Sem 2 2024
LANG1359	RMIT Vietnam Hanoi Campus	Undergraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face	Viet2 2022

Course Coordinator: Dr. Anamaria Ducasse

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 99259769

Course Coordinator Email: anamaria.ducasse@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 37, Floor 5, Room 45

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

The course examines ways in which social and interpersonal factors such as gender, class, ethnicity and regional differences influence language variation. Other topics covered include language change over time, language contact, language attitudes, and social aspects of interaction and style. This course also introduces you to the main methods of sociolinguistic research and explores language and new media (for example email, SMS, Twitter etc.), and situational variation in language (formal vs. informal; written vs. spoken). 

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes

In course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:

Bachelor of Languages BP317 Vietnam 

• Communicate effectively in a range of forms and in different international and cross-cultural contexts, using appropriate modes of communication including electronic, written, graphic, oral and aural forms with audiences within and external to the discipline.
• Critically reflect on the role of culture in communication and society and apply this knowledge in a range of cross-cultural interactions locally and globally.
• Work independently and in diverse teams to solve problems, using effective communication strategies demonstrating ethical and reflective practice.
• Adapt and develop effective communication strategies to address linguistic diversity in the workplace.
• Identify, evaluate and critically analyse cultural, historical and theoretical practices which contextualise your professional practice and further study of language.
• Evaluate and apply technology to increase efficiency and precision in language sensitive working contexts.
• Critically analyse resources, evidence and personal experience to make ethical, socially and politically aware decisions related to language and intercultural interpretations and applications.
• Effectively manage your own learning, developing skills in lifelong learning of languages atnd crosscultural communication.

 Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to: 

1. Recognise and explain the ways in which social and interpersonal factors influence language. 
2. Understand foundation concepts and theories of the field of sociolinguistics and be familiar with the main methods of sociolinguistic research. 
3. Critically evaluate sociolinguistic theories and concepts and apply your knowledge to different language contexts and new studies. 
4. Express your understanding of the foundation of sociolinguistic concepts and theories orally and in writing. 

Overview of Learning Activities

 Learning activities will take the form of: 

Online discussions 

Workshops 

Assignments 

Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. 

Learning resources will consist of recommended references and class notes which may be accessed through "myRMIT" if you are in Melbourne and via "Canvas" if you are based in Vietnam. 

 The set of references is deliberately broad, including books, journal publications, government reports, industry standards and handbooks, and web-based resources. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal. 

Overview of Assessment

 

You will be required to submit a range of assessments throughout the semester to demonstrate how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and capabilities. Assessment tasks may involve working independently and/or as part of a pair or team on a range of written, oral and interactive tasks (for example, in-class tests, essays, class presentations, group projects, debates, learning diaries, final exams etc). You will also receive verbal and/or written feedback from your lecturers and/or peers on your assessment tasks. 
Weighting on the assessment tasks for postgraduate students will vary with an additional or expanded assessment task. 
You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes.

Assessment Tasks
Progressive Assessments 
Assessment Task 1: Reflective Journals 30% (CLO1, CLO2)
Assessment Task 2: Paired Case Study 30% (CLO1, CLO3, CLO4)

Final Assessment 
Assessment Task 3: Essay 40% (CLO1, CLO2, CLO3, CLO4)

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks. 

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more. 

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.