29822 - History of the English Language (LM)

Learning outcomes

With specific reference to this course, the students are expected to have a good knowledge of the sociocultural and historical-political factors which have contributed to the changes that the english language has undergone over time - especially in colonial and postcolonial times. The issue of language standards and language policy is another crucial aspect which the student will be expected to know about.

Course contents

Course title: New Englishes/ World Englishes

The course aims to sensitize the students to current issues concerning English as a global lingua franca by taking a close look at the Colonialism which gave rise to this phenomenon and the consequences this has had, and continues to have, on the language itself, but also on its speakers, be they native or non-native. Contemporaneously, it underlines the inextricable connection between language, ideology and culture. The activities in English, including language classes for all the courses, but also the metalinguistic approach adopted, will also help the students improve their own knowledge and use of English.

The course would promote students' awareness of the English language, (or, better, of ‘New' Englishes', as they are now called) in a global, post-colonial context. It deals with the multiple varieties that the rapid expansion of English has created, and the consequent diversification into new categories typically defined as ‘non-standard' (vs ‘standard), including EIL, English as an International Language, or ELF, English as Lingua Franca. The linguistic – but at the same time clearly socio-cultural and thus political – debate that rages around such classifications is discussed in depth. Moreover, the repercussions of these varieties on the teaching of English as second and Foreign Language are gone into. Is it possible to teach EIL, English as International Language, rather than typically standards-dominated EFL or ESL? What are the pros and cons of even trying to do so? What are the effects of rigid language standardization on the non-native speaker in terms of cultural identity? In this perspective, select current language planning policies will be examined. Is the fear behind most planning, i.e., that standard English is seriously threatened by the varieties being ‘tolerated', to be taken seriously, or dismissed as nonsense? What is the future of English? Clearly no final answers to such questions can be offered, but if the students reach the point of considering them – and considering them as serious queries – the course will have reached its most essential objective.

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

Required Reading:

J. Jenkins, 2nd edition, 2009, World Englishes: a resource book for students, London: Routledge. (entire book)

 

(Select further readings may be suggested during the course.)

 

- All texts/readings will be available in the library of the Department of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature; the Jenkins book will also be at: ‘Feltrinelli International' in Via Zamboni 7, Bologna.

 

 

Teaching methods

Activities:

The course, taught wholly in English, includes:

a)      lectures;

b)      individual study;

c)      class discussion of topics, workshops and student presentations.

 

Pre-requisites:

As the course is exclusively in English, the minimum level of competence in all abilities that is required is C1, with reference to the Council of Europe's descriptors.

 

Assessment methods

Testing methods for attending students include:

1. a written exam, to be done at the end of the course, offered on one date only; this may have various kinds of questions, including: multiple choice, true or false, match-ups, and ‘open' questions, to which the students will be asked to give short answers, AND
2. EITHER a PPT presentation to the class on a topic of the student's choice that has been approved by the professor OR  a research paper of about 2,500 words on an approved topic.
3. in alternative to the options at point 2, interested students can opt to attend the workshop being organized for the 22 October, 2011 at Ca' Foscari (VE) on the topic of “English Lingua Franca: contexts, strategies, and international relations”. A formal declaration of their attendance will be required, along with a written paper (approx. 2,500 words) dealing with the issues being presented that day. Specific topics need to be approved by the professor.

 

Those who choose not to attend the course will do:

1. a research paper of about 2,500 words on an approved topic AND
2. an oral exam on the contents of the course book.

 

Evaluation of student PPTs and papers will be based on various criteria, including the ability of the student to follow academic conventions for structuring their work (introduction, sections, conclusion and bibliography) and also those for citing their sources. It is also expected that supplementary material (in addition to the Jenkin's text) will be made use of and that the student's use of English will be at an appropriate level.

 

Teaching tools

Lessons will  make use of PPT presentations.

Links to further information

http://www.facli.unibo.it/Lingue/Studenti/Programmi+di+studio+specifici/EnglishLanguageStudiesProgram/default+ELSP.htm

Office hours

See the website of Donna Rose Miller