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How can you achieve success in this upper-division linguistics course?
How can you achieve success in this upper-division linguistics course?
It's important to ask ourselves what success looks like, particularly in the study of language learning. When learning a new language, what are your personal strategies? How can "failures" and risk-taking become stepping stones to success? What might you say to your future students to encourage them on their language learning journey?
To help us consider these questions, we will be exploring second language acquisition (SLA) through myriad strategies that help us develop empathy and understanding of the language learner's journey.
One of these strategies will entail a series of fun, immersive lessons in Swahili, a language which I have studied extensively and occasionally taught. Tujifunze Kiswahili! Let's learn Swahili!
Another strategy will be to explore autobiographical narratives of language learners. This includes the narrative In Other Words (2016) by award-winning novelist Jhumpa Lahiri, originally written in Italian and translated into English.
Animated image above: A gif produced by Localization Lab to inform Kenyan voters of procedures for confirming the veracity of social media posts (before reposting), and preventing election day violence.
Tips for your success
Tips for your success
Additionally, in graduate courses, successful students will use assignments and other assessments (e.g., projects, quizzes, discussions) as opportunities to:
Reflect on our class discussions and generate their own questions.
Draw upon personal experiences and insights to suggest alternative ways of approaching course materials, and/or interpreting key data, that help us analyze and understand.
Assignments and other assessments are designed to build your ability to creatively connect, explain, and apply core concepts. These goals are also described by our specific Course Goals and Student Learning Outcomes.
Let's work together to build your confidence!
Click the image above to discover the story of Christina Kwauk, an English Language Specialist with the U.S. Department of State in 2023.
In Morocco, Specialist Christina Kwauk played a vital role in equipping educators with the knowledge and skills to integrate climate change topics into their classrooms.
Over a whirlwind two and a half week period in February 2023, she was able to deliver three two-day workshops to teacher educators in multiple fields in the cities of Tangier, Safi, and Oujda, as well as a workshop for pre-service English language teachers in Rabat.
For more about the English Language Specialist Program, and how to apply please visit: https://elprograms.org/specialist-program/
What are our Specific Course Goals?
What are our Specific Course Goals?
1. Approach the systematic study of language through a discourse-functional perspective.
1. Approach the systematic study of language through a discourse-functional perspective.
Creatively center the communicative functions of language.
Develop appreciation for the sociocultural elements of language, through intentional engagement with Swahili as an exemplar.
2. Become familiar with styles of writing & methods of research employed by linguists.
2. Become familiar with styles of writing & methods of research employed by linguists.
Gain experience with research articles, popular prose, & investigative techniques.
3. Appreciate the linguistic diversity of our campus community.
3. Appreciate the linguistic diversity of our campus community.
Value a variety of communicative styles & purposes in use at Cal State Dominguez Hills (CSUDH).
Have fun expanding curiosity with multilingualism, language learning, & new media.
4. Build an understanding of language learning as a complex process for children and adults.
4. Build an understanding of language learning as a complex process for children and adults.
Develop appreciation for the complexities of learning a new language system, through intentional engagement with Swahili as an exemplar.
Appreciate the interplay between language learning and a range of social, cognitive, and psychological factors.
Explore connections to other fields of study, professions, & everyday concerns.
You may or may not become a professional linguist, but this course will help you critically evaluate your own uses of language, and the importance of language in other arenas of interest.
What's a Student Learning Outcome?
What's a Student Learning Outcome?
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) describe the knowledge, skills, and understanding we hope you will gain through this course. These are established through our work together in learning, and guide our activity, assignments, and discussion.
Upon completing this course successfully, the Student Learning Outcomes state that you should be able to:
Upon completing this course successfully, the Student Learning Outcomes state that you should be able to:
1. ...Exhibit strong academic behaviors: regular attendance, timeliness, participation in class activities, perseverance, and adherence to CSUDH's Academic Integrity Policy.
2. ...Demonstrate an understanding of the discipline of linguistics and its role in various fields, e.g., education, criminology, anthropology, history, political science, and communications technology.
3. ...Identify and define the three dimensions of language structure: phonetics/phonology, morphology, and syntax and analyze their role in semantics.
4. ...Demonstrate knowledge of the role of language and its interconnectedness with peoples, societies, and cultures and explain the importance of language in global citizenship.
5. ...Engage with the current literature in applied linguistics through in-class conversations, where they will express opinions through critical argumentation and presentation.
When I submit grades at the end of the semester, I will also be evaluating whether you have adequately achieved each of our Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs). I look forward to supporting your successes and achievements!
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