- Docente: Donna Rose Miller
- Credits: 9
- SSD: L-LIN/12
- Language: English
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in LANGUAGE, SOCIETY AND COMMUNICATION (cod. 0982)
Learning outcomes
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.
Program Contents: Issues and Focus
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
For those attending the course regularly, testing methods will depend on the number of students:
if many, evaluation will be by means of a written exam: 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.
If few: a research paper on a topic of the student's choice will be required.
Those who do not attend the course will do an oral exam on the
full contents of the required reading.
Teaching tools
Lessons will at times make use of PPT presentations.
Links to further information
Office hours
See the website of Donna Rose Miller