LANGUAGE POLITICS AND EDUCATION
Overview of language politics, policies, and practices in global perspective; draws on the work of anthropologists, sociolinguists, and language policy scholars to examine how language choices in and regarding schooling interact with ethnic and linguistic diversity. Consider the following questions: How and under what conditions do language policies, practices, and pedagogies redress or exacerbate inequalities? How people at the local level, including educators, negotiate language and literacy policies and politics. Uses a global lens to expand local understandings and practices.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Junior standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Social & Behavioral Science Breadth - Social Science Level - Advanced L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Compare language policies and their impact on equity efforts across a range of locations Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Identify key concepts in the study of language. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Compare a range of approaches to studying language and education. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Critically analyze how language functions to construct inequalities in texts, media and everyday interactions. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Develop critical media literacy skills by connecting contemporary events with theories and debates we discuss in class. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Develop academic speaking and writing skills. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Critically reflect on language politics in own field of study and research interests Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Compare language policies and their impact on equity efforts across a range of locations Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Identify key concepts in the study of language. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Compare a range of approaches to studying language and education. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Critically analyze how language functions to construct inequalities in texts, media and everyday interactions. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Develop critical media literacy skills by connecting contemporary events with theories and debates we discuss in class. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 6. Develop academic speaking and writing skills. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 7. Critically reflect on language politics in own field of study and research interests Audience: Graduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027