HUMN 1053 Diversity, Language and Culture

This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://hbook.westernsydney.edu.au.

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 102736

Coordinator Sebastian Byrne Opens in new window

Description The purpose of this unit is to equip students with skills to understand and navigate a culturally and linguistically diverse society, including that of Greater Western Sydney. Students will gain an historically informed, critical understanding of the meaning of culture, the impact of colonisation, indigenous Australian cultures, and of approaches to diversity, multilingualism and multiculturalism. They will explore the value of their existing and emerging skills in bilingualism and cross-cultural communication as tools to navigate a rapidly changing global environment. Students will practice their intercultural communication skills in a team setting through a virtual field trip to an Australian community.

School Humanities & Comm Arts

Discipline Studies in Human Society, Not Elsewhere Classified.

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Check your HECS Band contribution amount via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 1 subject

Equivalent Subjects HUMN 1009 - Contemporary Society HUMN 1011 - Contemporary Society (WSTC) HUMN 1056 - Diversity Language and Culture (WSTC)

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

Explain key concepts in the analysis of diversity, language and culture.
Develop communicative competence in a range of intercultural settings.
Identify and explain the role of cultural diversity, bilingualism and multilingualism in becoming responsible local and global citizens.
Engage critically with media and visual culture to ground their theoretical understanding.
Achieve academic literacy by locating and assessing sources and expounding an argument in written and verbal forms.
Critically reflect upon experiences of intercultural communication and community engagement.
Work effectively in teams.

Subject Content

Histories, concepts and policies of cultural diversity.
Cultures of Indigenous Australian peoples.
Bilingualism and multilingualism.
Language as a human endowment.
Language typology and language learning.
Concepts of social harmony and social protest.
Race and colonialism in Australia.
Arts and visual culture in contemporary Australia.
Advocating for alternative futures.
Self-directed field trip including in-class preparation: engaging in cultural and intercultural experiences.

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.