Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 101449

Coordinator Ruying Qi Opens in new window

Description Bilingualism and biculturalism are important aspects of life in Australia: many Australian residents are, were, or could be, bilingual and/or bicultural. This subject aims to give students an understanding and appreciation of the most important facets and manifestations of bilingualism and biculturalism, in the linguistic, cognitive, personal, societal and educational spheres, particularly with regard to the Australian context. It also aims to show students how this subject relates to broader studies in education, humanities, linguistics, and social sciences.

School Humanities & Comm Arts

Discipline Linguistics

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 1 10cp

Check your HECS Band contribution amount via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 3 subject

Equivalent Subjects LGYB 2371 - Bilingualism and Biculturalism

Learning Outcomes

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

1. demonstrate knowledge about raising children bilingually and biculturally.
2. identify and explain language choice, language maintenance and language shift in multilingual societies as well as code-switching and language mixing in bilingual speakers.
3. identify relationships between bilingualism and cognitive development.
4. evaluate the effectiveness of bilingual education programs and aspects of cross-cultural and/or inter-cultural communication.
5. demonstrate understanding of the complex issues and different dimensions of individual and social bilingualism.
6. critically analyse a range of attitudes toward bilingualism and their relationships with multi-identity.

Subject Content

1. A short overview and introduction to the main concepts of bilingualism and biculturalism.
2. The concept of biculturalism; languages in contact - language maintenance, shift and change; language attitudes; multi-identity.
3. The nature of language interaction and codeswitching, e.g. language choice.
4. Bilingualism and cognitive development.
5. Bilingual language acquisition; raising children bilingually and biculturally.
6. Bilingual education in Australia and overseas; bilingual programs.
7. Bilingualism and aspects of cross-cultural, intercultural communication.