Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course is divided into three parts. The first, given in lecture form, is a historical and theoretical introduction to the use and study of English in the former British Empire, as well as to pidgins and creoles. The second part, taught in seminar format, consists in a critical discussion of texts (on different aspects of varieties of English) that students are requested to read before each session. Finally, the third part covers some of the main lexical, grammatical and pragmatic features of the Nigerian, Australian and Jamaican varieties of English, in addition to concentrating on the historical, social and cultural contexts of these varieties.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Upon completion of the course, students will have acquired the theoretical bases needed to understand linguistic variation, especially in relation to the Anglophone world. They will also have been provided with an overview of the linguistic situation of the territories that make up the Commonwealth, and they will be able to engage in critical discussions of relevant linguistic and socio-cultural issues.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Very good knowledge of English
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The class will include both theoretical lectures and interactive sessions. The final session will be devoted to short presentations made by students on the topic of their written essay (see below).
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
Face-to-face.
Recommended or required readings
Powerpoint presentations used in class, as well as texts to be prepared at home, will be made available on the e-campus platform during the year. A list of recommended reading material will also be made available to the students.
Assessment methods and criteria
Written essay and oral exam. The final mark will take into account the students' level of English, their ability to develop a scholarly argument, and their mastery of the theoretical material studied in class.
The brief oral presentation that the students are requested to make during the final session of the course will not count towards their final mark. However, this presentation is compulsory for all those who wish to take the exam in May-June.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
The course is taught in English.
Contacts
Daria Tunca, Département de langues modernes : linguistique, littérature, traduction, Université de Liège, Place Cockerill, 3-5 (A2), B-4000 Liège, Belgium. Email: dtunca@uliege.be. Phone: + 32 (0) 4 366 53 44.
Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session
Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning
Sessions from 16 March 2020 onwards take the form of audio lectures recorded over Powerpoint presentations, and made available to students on eCampus in both Powerpoint and video formats. The regular Powerpoint presentations (i.e., without audio recordings) are also made available on eCampus.
Assessment subjects
The material to be assessed is that covered both face-to-face and via distance learning.
Assessment methods
Written essay and oral exam. The oral exam will be organized remotely.
The short oral presentation mentioned in the original course description can take the form of an audio recording or of a written essay sent by email.