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Bilingualism (LING90021)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Online and On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 - Online Semester 2 - On Campus |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject examines the phenomenon of bi/multilingualism from both individual and societal perspectives. It enables students to understand the language choices made by speakers in bilingual and multilingual settings, the role of language contact in language change, the relationship between language and cognition and the psychological and societal factors influencing language acquisition, language maintenance, and language loss. It also considers educational and political issues associated with bilingualism, and familiarises students with a range of institutional models whereby citizens can be encouraged to successfully learn and use two or more languages in their daily lives.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Gain an understanding of bilingualism, both as an individual and as a societal phenomenon
- Demonstrate familiarity with linguistic, sociolinguistic, psycholinguistic, educational and political issues associated with bilingualism
- Gain an understanding of bilingual education.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should:
- Have developed skills in abstracting theory from practice
- Be able to identify unstated assumptions determining an argument
- Gain formed judgments from conflicting evidence
- Have become open to new ideas and possibilities
- Have improved their oral and written communication.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
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 |
|---|---|---|
Reflective learning portfolio
| From Week 2 to Week 10 | 20% |
Research proposal
| Week 6 | 20% |
Research project
| During the examination period | 60% |
| Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. There is an expectation that students attend lectures where offered. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: 2. Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 10 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 2 - Online
Coordinator Olga Maxwell Mode of delivery Online Contact hours Equivalent of 24 hours: Self-directed activities including following seminar recordings, weekly participation in online activities as directed by the subject coordinator. There are no classes for online study. 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 - On Campus
Coordinator Olga Maxwell Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours: 1 x 1-hour lecture and 1x1-hour workshop per week 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
Olga Maxwell: omaxwell@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
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.
Additional delivery details
This subject is offered as both online and on-campus. Some restrictions on student visa holders apply. Please contact the course coordinator for more information.
The online option involves self-directed learning using instructions and resources provided in the LMS, and participation in online discussions and tasks as directed by the subject coordinator. There is no class attendance in this option.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Bilingualism: An Advanced Resource Book (Ng Bee Chin and Wigglesworth, Gillian) Routledge (2007).
Additional Reading Pack to be provided by the School
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- Links to additional information
- 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.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 4 March 2025