175-203 First and Second Language Literacies

Note

Available as 175-303 at 3rd-year level.

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Normally at least 12.5 points of Linguistics or 37.5 points of modern language study at first-year level.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject will provide an introduction to the study of first and second language literacy. It will first of all locate the notion of literacy within broader debates about what it means to be literate. This will include discussion of the social, cultural and cognitive effects of becoming literate, on both the individual and social level, the development of writing systems, the division between literacy and oracy, changing forms of literacy such as cultural literacy and media literacy, and the importance of looking at literacy in terms of 'literacy events' or 'literacy practices' in specific contexts. These concerns will then be related more directly to issues of second language literacy, and specifically to issues of literacy in languages other than English, literacy in cross-cultural contexts, and the nature of second language reading and writing processes. We will also focus on particular issues within literacy, such as literacy and gender, literacy and politics, literacy in Aboriginal Australia, critical literacy, and current debates over literacy in Australian schools.

Assessment

Written work totalling 5000 words at second and third year level.

Prescribed Texts

There is no set text for the course; however students should purchase a copy of the subject readings from the department office before semester begins. The subject manual will contain a list of recommended texts.