EDU 513 - Sociolinguistics for Educators

Course unit(s): 1
This course provides an overview the English language for the prospective teachers in preparation for their work with language learners. The course begins with the systems of language from the perspective of formal linguistics—phonology, syntax, morphology, semantics, and pragmatics—and the acquisition of these language components for both native and nonnative speakers of English. While the study of language for language’s sake is interesting, language does not exist by itself and for itself, but rather as a social tool for human communication. Hence, the course provides an overview of sociolinguistics through topics such as relationship between language and culture, identity, gender, race, socioeconomic status, nationalism, and ideologies. Particular attention will be paid to language use in U.S. society and schools for both native and nonnative speakers of English.