Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Languages & Cultures School
The course will explore the cognitive and social nature of bilingualism and dispel myths (both negative and positive) about this complex phenomenon. Students will develop a sensitive view of advantages and challenges that come with knowing two or more languages and cultures, and the way identity, power and language interact in bilingual and multilingual spaces. The students will also reflect on the way language development histories and socio-political contexts may affect language use and the implications for maintaining individual and community bilingualism.
This is anﾠinterdisciplinary course, which brings expertise from a range of subfields to provide a nuanced and balanced survey of the complex phenomenon of bi/multilingualism. The course is flipped, which means that it is not taught in the traditional lecture+tutorial format. Throughout the semesterﾠyou will be required to work on some reading/viewing materials at home BEFORE we discuss the key concepts and their implications in class.
The flippedﾠapproachﾠgives students with different backgrounds sufficient time to process the course content andﾠprepare for meaningful discussions in class, which allows deeper learning through pacedﾠengagement withﾠthe content andﾠcreates the space for application of and further development ofﾠtransferable skills.
Course requirements
Assumed background
The course is interdisciplinary in nature, with most sources drawn from various subfields of applied linguistics. However, no prior knowledge of Linguistics is required or assumed. There is a pre-requisite of 8 units in the BA courses (or equivalent) since this is an advanced level course and students should be familiar with some of the methodologies and modes of inquiry current in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
8 units in BA List courses
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
SLAT2001; second language experience
Jointly taught details
This course is jointly-taught with:
- Another instance of the same course
The class is taught in dual delivery mode, which means that students enrolled externally and internally are taught at the same time in the same class.
Course staff
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
The course will explore the cognitive and social nature of bilingualism and dispel myths (both negative and positive) about this complex phenomenon. Students will develop a nuanced view of advantages and challenges that come with knowing two or more languages and cultures, and the way identity, power and language interact in bilingual and multilingual spaces. The students will also reflect on the way language development histories and socio‐political contexts may affect language use and the implications for maintaining individual and community bilingualism.
The research project is the culmination of the course learning, which builds on course content but is guided by students' personal interests and context to construct a convincing argument of their own to address a known problem, gap or opportunity in the field. The project builds on and develops key transferable skills as it enables the students to draw information from a variety of sources, making their way through jargon and discourse strategies used in the specific subfields, and synthesise and integrate various sources of data.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Define the key issues, theoretical approaches and methods in the study of bilingualism, language contact, and social change.
LO2.
Synthesise knowledge from a range of sources that explain the nature of the interaction between linguistic, cognitive and socio-cultural factors in a situation when two or more languages and their speakers come into contact.
LO3.
Critically read and evaluate primary research articles and interpret the results of empirical studies to answer a specific research question.
LO4.
Demonstrate understanding of how the main factors covered by the course may influence individuals and communities in their specific contexts.
LO5.
Apply comprehensive and in-depth understanding of theoretical discussions and research findings to formulate, analyse, synthesise and communicate complex problems to a general audience in a clear and concise manner in both written and oral format.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection |
Weekly reading response assessment
|
20% |
5/03/2025 5:00 pm 12/03/2025 5:00 pm 19/03/2025 5:00 pm 26/03/2025 5:00 pm 2/04/2025 5:00 pm 9/04/2025 5:00 pm 7/05/2025 5:00 pm 14/05/2025 5:00 pm 21/05/2025 5:00 pm 28/05/2025 5:00 pm |
| Quiz |
In-Semester online take-home assessment
|
35% |
17/04/2025 5:00 pm
WEEK 8. The assessment must be completed during the 48-hour window prior to the submission deadline. |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY: Part 1 of the Research Project
|
15% |
23/05/2025 5:00 pm
WEEK 12 |
| Presentation, Poster, Project |
POSTER and PRESENTATION: Part 2 of the Research Project
|
30% |
13/06/2025
Exam Week 1. Please check the Assessment folder on Blackboard for the exact time of your presentation. |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Weekly reading response assessment
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
5/03/2025 5:00 pm
12/03/2025 5:00 pm
19/03/2025 5:00 pm
26/03/2025 5:00 pm
2/04/2025 5:00 pm
9/04/2025 5:00 pm
7/05/2025 5:00 pm
14/05/2025 5:00 pm
21/05/2025 5:00 pm
28/05/2025 5:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03, L04
Task description
Starting in Week 2, to facilitate reading/viewing and discussion, by 5PM, the day before the class (unless otherwise noted), students are required to post AT LEAST ONE QUESTION or COMMENT (100-150 words) on the chapter/article/video from the required reading material for the week. The questions and comments should be in a discussion format: demonstrating an integrated understanding of the topic and providing some insights. As an option, students can choose to respond to the prompt provided for that week in the relevant Discussion Board thread. Alternatively, students may choose to pose a discussion question or comment on concepts from the reading/video resources and connect them either to their lived experiences or relevant scholarship. Specifically, questions should go beyond definitions, simple statements of research findings, or unsupported personal opinions. Questions should suggest plausible links / relationships between concepts, theories, findings, and their interpretations. Focus each question on one issue, then illustrate by examples, when possible.
These questions/comments must be posted on Blackboard in the Discussion Board under the forum thread corresponding to the assigned week.
See more detailed instructions in the relevant Assessment folder.
Gen AI & MT Statement: This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies for preparation, successful completion of this assessment will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students may be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Post your weekly questions and comments under the relevant Discussion Board threads.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
This is a flipped course, so completion of readings/viewings before class time is essential for contribution to the class discussion.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
In-Semester online take-home assessment
- Hurdle
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
17/04/2025 5:00 pm
WEEK 8. The assessment must be completed during the 48-hour window prior to the submission deadline.
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L04, L05
Task description
The online open book, take home assessment is aimed at assessing how/whether you have internalised the key concepts taught in weeks 1-8 and how well you have engaged with the literature we have read. In addition, the assessment will ask you to apply your knowledge to real-world contexts.
You are allowed to use the course materials during the assessment, but be mindful of the time it takes to look through entire papers/videos. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to make notes of the readings/videos throughout the semester and to complete their posts.
You will have a 48-hour window in Week 8, during which you need to find 1 hour to complete the assessment. You will only have one hour to complete it during this window from the moment you start it, whether you take breaks or not.
Gen AI & MT Statement: This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies for preparation, successful completion of this assessment will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students may be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Hurdle requirements
The assessment needs to be attempted to earn at least a grade 4 in the course.Submission guidelines
The link to the assessment will be available on Blackboard in the Assessments folder on Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY: Part 1 of the Research Project
- Hurdle
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
23/05/2025 5:00 pm
WEEK 12
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
The Annotated Bibliography assessment is the first part of the Research Project, which each student will undertake this semester. The project will focus on a problem/gap/opportunity of importance to the understanding of bilingualism. (e.g, the project may focus on dismantling one of misconceptions about bilingualism, articulate a research-backed explanation of a controversial topic or suggest and intervention or policy change based on available research).
For this assessment, students will identify their topic of interest and formulate a research question and look for answers in published scholarship. In Week 12, students will submit an Annotated Bibliography of 6-8 research sources, which were not discussed in class. The document will consist of the annotations of each source and a short 1.5-2-page write-up synthesizing the main findings from these sources as far as they answer the chosen research question. See the detailed assessment guide on Blackboard in the relevant Assessments folder.
By Week 9, students will have an opportunity to submit a topic proposal and draft annotations of two research papers for feedback (optional, not marked).
*This annotated bibliography and write-up will serve as a foundation for the creation of the Research Poster and Presentation Assessment ( Part 2 of the Research Project).
Gen AI & MT Statement: This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies for preparation, successful completion of this assessment will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students may be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Hurdle requirements
The Annotated Bibliography must contain the write-up in order to receive a passing mark on this assessment. The students must upload PDFs of the annotated sources in order to receive a passing mark on this assessment. Students must submit an annotated bibliography that matches the topic of the Research Poster and Presentation Assessment.Submission guidelines
Submit the bibliographies and pdfs of the sources you annotated via the appropriate links in the Assessment folder on Blackboard
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Please do not apply for extensions of the topic proposal. The bibliography is the basis for the research poster and presentation and needs to be completed prior to the poster presentation, which is in Week 1 of the Examination period.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
POSTER and PRESENTATION: Part 2 of the Research Project
- Identity Verified
- Online
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Presentation, Poster, Project
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
13/06/2025
Exam Week 1. Please check the Assessment folder on Blackboard for the exact time of your presentation.
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
The Poster Presentation assessment is the second part of the Research Project, which each student will undertake this semester.
Students will use the sources and write-up from the Annotated Bibliography assessment to create a research poster, representing their argument about the problem/gap/opportunity of importance to the understanding of bilingualism.
The poster should explain and illustrate to the general public (non-specialists) the essence and importance/implications of the chosen topic and/or provide a solution to an identified problem/tension. It will be important to show not only that you have understood the theoretical text(s), but also how they have enabled you to think differently about the phenomenon you are discussing.
In Week 1 of the Examination Period, students submit the poster and will also deliver a short 3-5-minute presentation of their argument on-line. Students will prepare to answer questions from peers and teachers and provide feedback to peers on their presentations. The whole class attends the online presentations on the day the assessment is scheduled. Attendance is mandatory as part of the marking criteria include peer feedback
The poster and presentation will be marked based on demonstrated understanding of materials; ability to explain theory and research findings to peers; application of theory; appropriate choice of phenomenon; creativity/originality; clarity of presentation; engagement with the work of other students (see marking criteria).
Gen AI & MT Statement: This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies for preparation, successful completion of this assessment will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students may be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Upload your poster following the instructions in the Assessment folder on Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student has failed to hand in the required assessable work by the specified date. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student's work is uneven and of limited merit, showing an inability to master the concepts and material of the course. The student has either not turned in the assignment on time or has not turned in a complete assignment. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The student has shown some understanding of the concepts and materials covered in the course, but has not demonstrated a coherent, soundly based comprehension of these concepts and materials. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student's work shows a basic level of understanding of concepts and materials covered in the course; some abilities to communicate and argue; and some abilities to link ideas to practice. This understanding, however, is not extended or sophisticated. The student fails to meet more than one of the assignment criteria. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student shows a richer, deeper and more articulated level of understanding than for a result of 4, with a more critical approach to the literature and its interpretation. The student fails to sufficiently respond to one of the assignment criteria. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student's work meets all criteria for the assignment. The student shows a firm understanding of the key concepts of the course; has shown some originality in developing the themes of the course and exploring them further; and in relating the literature to personal experience and practice. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student's work meets all criteria for the assignment. The student shows originality and initiative in approaching the themes of the course, together with an advanced level of understanding and ability to synthesize diverse materials, to link the literature to personal experience, ideas and practice, and to engage in discourse about the course at an advanced level. |
Additional course grading information
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Workshop |
In class activities The class time each week will be devoted to short interactive presentations and discussions, group and whole class activities to broaden and strengthen your understanding of the material assigned for independent work. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Additional learning activity information
This course will be taught in the flipped mode, which means that you will need to read and/or watch learning resources assigned for the week BEFORE class in order to discuss, apply and broaden the knowledge of the material in class
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.