Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This unit is intended primarily for international and domestic students for whom English is a second or additional language. You are encouraged to take this unit early in your course. Teachers and researchers of English as a second or foreign language need to be fluent writers and speakers of English. At Masters level, students need to be conversant with academic language, academic conventions and scholarly uses of research literature, for learning, teaching and research.

Aims

The aim of this Master level unit is to enable learners, teachers and researchers of English as a second or foreign language to develop their English language fluency and their knowledge of academic discourse, conventions and scholarly approaches.

Objectives

On completion of the unit, you should have:

1.Developed greater fluency in reading, writing, and speaking academic English (GC: A, C, D)

2.Developed strategies for accessing, evaluating, selecting and using scholarly literature relevant to teaching and learning English as a second or foreign language (GC: A, B, C)

3.Demonstrated a critical, ethical, creative and reflective approach to using and communicating scholarly information (GC: A, C, E)

4.Related theories of learning and teaching English as a second or foreign language to a practical context, and to your own language learning experience (GC: A, B, C, D, F, G)

Content

This unit includes the following topics:

• Selecting and accessing scholarly literature, from a variety of sources, relating to learning/teaching English as a Second (or Foreign) Language


• Reading and critical evaluation of scholarly literature relating to learning/teaching English as a second (or foreign) language


• Writing critically, creatively and ethically on a topic relating to learning/teaching English as a second (or foreign) language


• Preparing and delivering an academic-style oral presentation on a topic relating to learning/teaching English as a Second (or Foreign) Language


• Discussion on theory and practice of learning/teaching English as a Second (or Foreign) Language


• Intellectual property. Copyright and referencing conventions

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit fosters an informed learning approach to academic language development. Thus, you will engage with scholarly literature relating to second language learning and teaching; and you will experience collaborative and independent learning and teaching strategies which include:

• Discussion on a variety of topics relating to second language learning and teaching, and using academic information


• Instruction and practice in elements of academic writing, such as: summarising; planning and developing academic papers such as literature reviews; cohesive writing; introductions and conclusions; note-taking and proof-reading; and referencing


• Instruction and practice in elements of academic speaking, such as: planning and delivering an oral presentation; preparing visual and hand-out materials


• Instruction and practice in using a variety of acdemic information resources and tools, such as: books and library catalogues; academic journals and databases; web-based documents and search engines


• Peer-to-peer sharing of critical feedback on written and oral work


• Reflective writing (personal learning journal)

Assessment

You will complete two assignments. Topics will be developed in discussion with your tutor. One assignment is due in week nine and the other at the end of the semester. The two assignments are linked to encourage an awareness of both theoretical background and practical application.Teaching staff offer formative and summative assessment, verbally and in writing. Each week's class begins with a question and review session. Teaching staff are available for individual consultation on a regular basis and online via email and Blackboard.

Assessment name: Literature Review
Description: Plan and write a literature review on a topic relating to learning or teaching of English as a second (or foreign) language. Reflect on your associated informed learning expereinces.

Length: 2500 words
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 & 3
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week-9

Assessment name: Literature Review
Description: Discuss the application of the Literature Review findings (Assignment 1) to a practical context, in a short essay and oral presentation. Reflect on your associated informed learning experiences.

Length: 2500 words
Relates to objectives: 1, 3, 4 & 5
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week-13

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

You will draw on a wide range of scholarly literature and information sources, in print and electronic formats, which are freely available via QUT Library, online databases and the World Wide Web. Resource materials will include books, reports, journal articles, ERIC documents and authentic materials related to second language learning and teaching for culturally diverse educational environments.
APA is the required referencing style.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. Workplace health and safety protocols in the use of computers will apply.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 29-Oct-2012