Module LANG2161: English and its Social Context

Department: English Language Centre

LANG2161: English and its Social Context

Prerequisites

• This module is only available to students whose mother-tongue is not English. It is designed specifically for Erasmus exchange students but will be open to international students studying for Durham degrees with departmental agreement. Students must speak English to a level equivalent to IELTS 6.0 or above

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• this module gives international students the opportunity to develop their English language skills by acquiring a deeper understanding of the social and cultural context of English in the UK
• students will develop their understanding of different 'genres' of speaking and writing in English including academic texts

Content

• students will analyse how English is used in different contexts such as academia, the media and the workplace
• students consider English in its wider cultural context by exploring issues such as accent, dialect and social class
• the module encourages students to think critically about British culture and to reflect on their experience in the UK by engaging with a number of contemporary issues
• students will conduct ethnographic research to gain deeper understanding into a linguistic, cultural or social issue

Learning Outcomes

• by the end of the module students will be able to:
• recognise different genres of language in spoken and written contexts
• use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes
• understand key issues in British language and culture

• by the end of the module students will be able to:
• produce different genres of writing, including academic texts
• develop effective seminar skills
• understand and conduct ethnographic research

• by the end of the module students will be able to:
• conduct a research project in English
• develop qualitative research skills
• develop academic language skills

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• the module is delivered through seminar-style classes that meet once a week
• contact time will be used to introduce new material through short lectures, short videos and other media as required. There will be an emphasis on participation in group-work and group discussion
• in preparation students will be set reading, listening and writing tasks
• DUO and self-access technologies will be used to extend classroom learning
• the assessment is designed to test students' research skills, academic language skills and the students' ability to critically reflect on their English and their cultural experience

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University