HENKE2302U English - Free topic B: Sociolinguistic perspectives on English and Globalization

Volume 2023/2024
Education

Engelsk

Content

Globalisation is commonly described as one of the key impact factors on human societies and sociality, and English is often considered the language of globalisation – not least in Denmark. The English language is used in many places for different purposes and many, though far from all, have English as part of their linguistic repertoires. Therefore, this course will explore questions that highlight temporal and contextual aspects of English and globalization, as well as how English as a global language functions and is experienced: What are the historical and present-day relations between English and globalization? What are the functions of English as a global language? How are English and globalisation experienced by speakers? 

 

The course is based on the English and Globalization in Denmark research project. It aims to introduce students to theories as well as diachronic and synchronic studies of English, sociolinguistics and globalization. This will enable students to understand and critically reflect on the historical and present-day influences of language – particularly English – on human societies, including collective practices and meaning-making processes. The course will cover themes like: ‘Discourses and ideologies on English and globalization’, ‘Local and global languages and identities’, ‘Mediatisation including online communication in glocal contexts’, and ‘Sociolinguistic change and the role of globalisation’. 

 

In addition, the course introduces students to methods used for studying language and globalization, such as survey research, linguistic ethnography, focus groups, and online as well as visual methods.  

This is a compendium and textbook-free course. All readings used are available online (for free) through the university library. A detailed course plan including readings for each week will be made available via Absalon before the course begins. Students are responsible for getting hold of the material listed in the course plan and read it in advance of each session, but please do not hesitate to contact the course teachers if you have problems locating particular items.

The course is taught as one integrated 15 ECTS course with a portfolio exam. The module is designed to be highly interactive. Based on a mix of lectures, individual as well as collective class activities, assignments and feedback, students will get to study and work with highly relevant and research-based themes as well as methods related to sociolinguistics, English and globalisation. Towards the end of the module, students will conduct an individual assignment based on empirical data collection and analysis using methods introduced in the course.
This course only leads to exams Free Topic 1, Free Topic 2 and Free Topic 3.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 56
  • Preparation
  • 353,5
  • Total
  • 409,5
Written
Oral
Individual
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio, A joint portfolio uploaded in digital exam: Deadline January 11th 2024
Type of assessment details
A portfolio uploaded in Digital Exam at the end of the course
- one 3-4-pages document in course week 7 (counts 20% of final grade) with peer feedback
- one 6-7-pages document in course week 12 (counts 30% of final grade) with peer feedback
- one 11-15-pages document (counts 50% of final grade).
The final portfolio has to be based on empirical data collection and analysis using methods introduced in the course. The topic for this assignment can be chosen among the course topics and has to be approved by the teachers
Exam registration requirements

This course only leads to exams Free Topic 1, Free Topic 2 and Free Topic 3.

Criteria for exam assesment