175-012 First & Second Language Literacies

This subject is an introduction to the study of first and second language literacy, locating literacy within broader debates about what it means to be literate. Topics include social, cultural and cognitive effects of becoming literate on both individual and social levels; development of writing systems; 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. Students will also examine issues of second language literacy; literacy in languages other than English, and in cross-cultural contexts; the nature of second language reading and writing processes; literacy and gender; literacy and politics; literacy in Aboriginal Australia; critical literacy; and current debates over literacy in Australian schools.