78682 - History of the English Language (LM)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with an expert knowledge of the socio-cultural and historical-political factors which have contributed to the changes that the English language has undergone over time and is still undergoing, with special focus on English as a Global Language. The students are introduced to the most influential contemporary theories regarding complex issues such as language spread, shift, death, and language planning and policies, as well as the debate between prescriptivism and non-prescriptivism. They are expected to be able to identify diachronic, diatopic and diastratic variation and the linguistic and cultural features of standard and non-standard and native and non-native Englishes, including indigeneous varieties of New Englishes and EIL/ELF.. Moreover, they are given the opportunity to develop their research competence and presentation skills, either orally or in written form. Language classes aim at improving students’ linguistic competence; over the two year period students’ knowledge of English should reach the level C2 according to the European framework in all four abilities. These classes will work in connection with the lectures to improve students’ writing skills in particular.

Course contents

NB: The course is exclusively for the students enrolled in the II level degree course in ‘Language, society and communication’ in the School of Foreign Languages and Literatures, Interpreting and Translation, as well as for Erasmus/ Overseas students. Erasmus students, as well as students from other Departments/ Degree Courses, must refer to information contained in the document published by the School and in attachment to the right on the following page:

https://corsi.unibo.it/2cycle/LanguageSocietyCommunication/erasmus-programme

 

Global Englishes

The course deals with the contemporary history of the English language, aiming to promote students’ awareness of the English language (or, better, of Global Englishes), in a post-colonial perspective. 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, or even ELF, or English as Lingua Franca, 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 achieved its most essential objective.

The activities in English, including separate language classes, but also the metalinguistic approach adopted, will also help the students improve their own knowledge and use of English, as will the language classes which are linked specifically to the official course and aim at the students achieving full proficiency.

Readings/Bibliography

 

For the lectures the course book is:

J. Jenkins, 3^rd edition, 2014, Global Englishes: a resource book for students, London: Routledge.

(entire book)

(Select further readings will be suggested during the course)

- The required and any recommended texts/readings will be available in the library of the Department of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature; the Jenkins book can also be ordered at: ‘Feltrinelli International’ in Piazza Ravegnana 1 , Bologna, or, more quickly, be ordered online at amazon, or other sites, such as hoepli.

For the lectures component, PPT slides will be especially created; a selection of these may be made available in the course of the semester in my online resources for students on a distribution list.

For the language component, especially created course materials (a dispensa) will be made available at the beginning of the semester in my and in Dr. James’ online resources for the course, as well as in copy shops located near the LILEC department.

 

 

Teaching methods

The official course (60 hours in class), taught wholly in English, includes:

1. lectures;
2. class discussion and student presentations of approved topics;
3. as well as individual study.

The language component, also in English and taught by Dr. Nigel James, comprises 36 hours of classroom work which focuses on English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and places particular emphasis on: oral presentation skills, question and answer practice; writing extended essays and short research papers, as well as on the discussion of ideas presented in such written work.

Pre-requisites:

As the course is exclusively in English, and the language component aims at a C2 level, the minimum level of competence in all abilities that is required is C1, with reference to the Council of Europe’s descriptors.

Assessment methods

NB: The student cannot refuse a passing mark in any of the partial requirements taken towards the final average mark in the course. Only a final mark can be refused, and only once. In this case, the partial requirements must then all be repeated.

Lectures component: 2/3 of the students’ final grade

Testing methods are different for attenders and non-attenders. Both categories offer the exact same possibility for getting top marks, so that the choice to be one or the other is simply a question of the individual’s preferences and /or needs.

A) The methods for regularly ATTENDING students of the official course lectures include:

1. a written exam on the contents of the lectures, to be done at the end of the course, offered on one date only; this has various kinds of questions, including: multiple choice, true or false, theory-theorist match-ups, and short ‘open’ questions, to which the students will be asked to provide 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. Topics cannot simply consist in a repetition of those already covered in lectures, unless suitably amplified and diversified. Special material will be set aside in the library as an aid in topic selection. The research paper must be handed in to the Department at least 2 weeks before the date of the oral exam/mark registration date the student opts to come to, having also passed the language written exam (see below).

The written exam for attenders is offered only once, on the last day of the course (date to be defined) and aims to test the often contrasting theories, as well as the diatopic, diastratic e diaphasic variety descriptions, that have been covered in the lectures and in class presentations. Students who have been assiduous attenders and who have acquired the notions illustrated there and in the presentations made available online for attenders only will inevitably do very well. Those ‘attenders’ who have missed lessons but still managed to acquire most of the notions explained in the materials on line should pass with a good, if not excellent, mark, while those who have attended and studied very little will clearly be risking not passing and so should consider modifying their status to ‘non attender’.

Evaluation of student PPTs and papers will be based on various criteria, including the ability of the student to follow basic academic conventions for structuring their work (introduction, sections, conclusion and bibliography/sitography) and citing their sources properly and continually – a fundamental aspect. ‘Originality’ is not an issue but it is expected that the PPT or paper will be logically coherent and demonstrate that the fundamental and often problematized notions being dealt with have been suitably acquired. It is also expected that relevant supplementary material (in addition to the Jenkins text) will be found and made use of and that the student’s use of Standard Academic English will be at an appropriately high level (C2).

The written exam and paper (or PPT) are weighted equally (50-50%) into the final mark for this component of the course. Final evaluation for attenders may also take into consideration their active class participation.

B) NON-attenders: those who choose not to regularly attend the course will do:

1. a research paper of about 2,500 words on an approved topic which is given into the ‘portineria’ at least 2 weeks before the student, having also passed the language exam (see below), comes to do the oral and complete the final course mark registration. No papers will be accepted by email. The second requirement for non-attenders is:
2. an oral exam on the contents of the course book.

The indications concerning the research paper above are valid for non-attenders as well. The oral exam for non-attenders will cover any of the contents of the Jenkins text and involve thoughtful if condensed discussion of notions and varieties dealt with in the text. Students who demonstrate having studied and in particular having understood the theories, and who are also capable of comparing/contrasting and even critiquing them, will do extremely well. The less their grasp of the concepts and their significance, the poorer the mark will clearly be. Their final mark on this component of the course is also an average of two evaluations: one on the paper and one for the oral (50-50%).

The lectures component of the course will count for 2/3 of the average final mark.

Language practice component: Dr. Nigel James: 1/3 of the students’ final grade

In addition, for attenders but also non-attenders, there is also a written exam for the language component of the course, which consists of an argumentative essay of approximately 500 words on a topic related to the course, to be written in no more than 90 minutes. The exam is offered once per session and must be passed before the final mark for the full course can be registered in almaesami.

Correction will apply the criteria for written skills expected at level C2 of the Common European Framework and in particular will apply detailed evaluation scales concerning: appropriacy of argumentation with reference to topic; presentation (layout, spacing, but also spelling and punctuation); structure/organization (academic conventions but also attention to coherence/cohesion), and accurateness of Standard Academic English lexicogrammatical usage.

This component of the course counts for approximately 1/3 of the average final mark.

Two dates for the registration of the average final course mark and oral exams are offered in each session. The final mark for the whole course is calculated by multiplying the mark for the lectures component by 2, adding the mark for the language component, and dividing the sum of these by 3.

In line with the Scuola’s policy, all written exams are valid for 4 sessions only.

Teaching tools

Lectures will make use of PPT presentations.

Links to further information

http://corsi.unibo.it/2Cycle/LanguageSocietyCommunication/Pages/LearningActivities.aspx

Office hours

See the website of Donna Rose Miller