Key Concepts of Language (EDUC91315)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Semester 2
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Language is both the means and object of education and having a shared metalanguage for language is part of professional formation for teachers. This subject provides the foundations of the features, systems, and development of spoken and written language. Topics include language acquisition, language systems which include the sound, lexical and grammatical systems, spoken and written discourse and how language functions.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Describe the fundamental concepts of language
- Identify and describe features of language using appropriate terminology
- Use the key concepts of language to analyse spoken and written texts.
Generic skills
This subject will assist students to develop the following transferable skills:
- Learning to learn and metacognition
- Responsiveness to a changing knowledge base
- Inquiry and research.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Corequisites
Non-allowed subjects
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
In-class quizzes on concepts and metalanguage (8 in total, equally weighted completed over 8 classes)
| Throughout the teaching period | 25% |
In-class written responses analysing passages using key concepts and metalanguage (8 in total, equally weighted, completed over 8 classes)
| Throughout the teaching period | 25% |
Analytical essay
| During the assessment period | 50% |
Attendance Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance at, or engagement with, all sessions identified as contact hours (may include lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops and activities, both synchronous and asynchronous). | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Julie Choi Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours comprising 8 x 2 hour seminars and 8 hours asynchronous activities Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 14 March 2025 Census date 31 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 Semester 1 contact information
- Semester 2
Coordinator Julie Choi Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours comprising 8 x 2 hour seminars and 8 hours asynchronous activities Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 28 July 2025 to 26 October 2025 Last self-enrol date 8 August 2025 Census date 1 September 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 26 September 2025 Assessment period ends 21 November 2025 Semester 2 contact information
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Required and recommended readings will be provided via the Learning Management System (LMS)
Recommended texts and other resources
Nunan, D. (2013). What is this thing called language? New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Derewianka, B., & Jones, P. (2022). Teaching language in context. Melbourne: Oxford University Press Australia & New Zealand.
While these texts are not required to complete the subject, it is highly recommended to fully engage with the content of this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of TESOL Course Master of Modern Languages Education - Links to additional information
Faculty of Education: https://education.unimelb.edu.au/
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025