Understanding Language, Culture, and Education

Catalog description

This course introduces students to theories of sociolinguistics, language acquisition, how language is used in the school context, and how it affects cognitive and social development. The course content includes the relationships between language and culture, language and identity, and what we mean when we talk about classroom discourse. Students will learn how, as teachers, using culturally sensitive lessons they can help their students develop academic language, critical thinking abilities and positive social relationship with peers. They will learn how to incorporate students’ Funds of Knowledge. Students will examine how various cultures contribute to the complexity of what and how we learn and know, and how we make sense of the world.