Reading Across Languages and Cultures: Theory, Research and Practice

3 units

The United Nations has declared that literacy is a fundamental human right. This course, which is taught in English, connects to the mission of UNESCO and examines the wide range of theoretical and research issues -- both historical and current -- related to reading and writing across languages and cultures. Literacy acquisition among second-language learners involves a number of variables, including both cognitive and social factors. Topics to be discussed include universal cognitive operations, individual learner differences, text types and literary forms, literacy and social power, and the extent to which reading and writing are interrelated. Students will discuss how to bridge scientific research in the laboratory to practice, and they will be involved in St. Louis community outreach projects with refugees and immigrants at the International Institute, where they will create and implement reading and writing activities driven by theory and empirical investigations. Students will take the theory and research they learn, and they will help meet the local reading and writing needs of a changing population with a variety of backgrounds, values, and educational preparations. The course is required for the minor in applied linguistics, the PhD in applied linguistics, and the graduate certificate in language instruction. This course carries the Social and Behavioral Sciences attribute and can be taken for different majors, such as Global Studies and Educational Studies.