Reminder: Grading Policy

All students will be evaluated as follows.

1. Attendance (30%)
2. Class participation (30%)
3. Final - Group oral presentation (40%)

Please note that your final grade will not be submitted until the beginning of 2014's fall semester.

Discussion Forum 10: How do you Feel about the Course? (Optional, DUE on 6/29)

Just share with us what you think about the course.
Note that there will not be any points deducted if you talk about how to improve the course.

Reminder: Work Division for Final Presentation (REQUIRED, DUE on 6/29)

We have finally finished the group presentation today (FINAL group ppt, DUE on 6/29). To be fair enough in grading your group work, please show how you divide the work (by percentage).

The list below presents a possible format of showing your work division.
Group X
Name 1 (%)
Name 2 (%)
Name 3 (%)
Name 4 (%)
Name 5 (%)

Please note that each group will have to show only one list.

Reminder: Format for Language Study Available HERE (Optional)

You are now trying conducting your own team research on Internet language (DUE on 6/27). To help better present the results, feel free to copy and paste the format below. But please note that you are able to present in your own way, as long as it is clear enough (or even APA standard).

Group X
Members: (Names)
Research Question: What are the distinctive features of Internet language?

1. Collected Data(1) Example (1)   
        Date of observation: …
        Participant(s): ...
        Subject: …
        Platform: …
        Time: …
   (2) Example (2)   
        Date of observation: …
        Participant(s): …
        Subject: …
        Platform: …
        Time: …
   (3) Example (3)
        Date of observation: …
        Participant(s): …
        Subject: …
        Platform: …
        Time: …
2. Research Findings
   (1) ......
   (2) ......
   (3) ......
3. Limitations of the Study
   (1) ......
   (2) ......
   (3) ......

Discussion Forum 9: What Makes Successful and Beneficial Intercultural Communication? (Optional, DUE on 6/29)

We've come to notice that culture shock is normal among people of different nationalities, and even among those from different neighborhoods only.
To avoid any embarrassing moment due to lack of cultural awareness,
what do you think might contribute to successful intercultural communication?
Please share with us your keys and secrets!

Discussion Forum 8: How is Language Taught and Learned? (Optional, DUE on 6/29)

Learning a language is a life-long task, and the task could be rather challenging but sometimes pretty rewarding.
Why not share with us how you have been learning about a foreign language (e.g., English) and how you feel about this way of language learning?
Or you could share with us what you think matters the most in a language classroom and why?

For more ideas about language teaching and learning, please refer to the article (soon to be discussed in class) to help you better describe your language beliefs and approaches.

Discussion Forum 7: How do You Think BBC- and Wiki-readings Help You Know More about Language? (or do They?) (Optional, DUE on 6/29)

BBC- and Wiki-readings are a major part of our learning material.
Do you think you really learn from the readings?
If yes, what are the things you learn about language?
Please be specific.

If not, don't worry.
Just share with us what you think might be a problem and a possible solution (if there is any).

Discussion Forum 6: How do you see the language examples in the movie, Pygmalion (1938)? (REQUIRED, Due on 6/22)

Movie clips are introduced in class for a cultural aspect to language.
(Feel free to check our lecture PowerPoint for the weblinks to the videos online!)

This time, focus specifically on the movie, Pygmalion (1938), and think on the following questions:
(1) What do you think is special about the language used in the movie?
(2) How do you relate the language topics/issues (e.g., dialect) to whatever you see and hear in the movie?

Note that your should answer the questions above in at least one complete paragraph.

Reminder: Group Meeting for Final Presentation

6/23 Group Meeting
1. 1:50 – 2:10 Group 1 
2. 2:15 – 2:35 Group 5
3. 2:40 – 3:00 Group 2
4. 3:05 – 3:25 Group 6
5. 3:25 – 3:45 Group 3
6. 3:50 – 4:10 Group 4

Note: Be sure to bring a HARD COPY of the first draft of your group PowerPoint.

Discussion Forum 5: What does Your Language Show and Reflect? (Optional, DUE on 6/29)

We have long been discussing how language helps us communicate thoughts, both verbally and nonverbally, but do you know sometimes your language shows something about yourself (even something that is supposed to be a secret)?
Just start to observe and come back to share with us what you find!

Discussion Forum 4: What is Paralanguage and the Hidden Message? (Optional, DUE on 6/29)

Paralanguage represents a hidden aspect of communication,
and it actually matters as much as written and spoken language.
What do you know about paralanguage?
How is it related to one's everyday life?

Reminder: Campus Map Available Here

Please go to the Computer and Information Network Center for our class meetings on both Thursday and Friday. Our classroom is the Third Computer Lab.

Discussion Forum 3: Share Your Examples HERE! (REQUIRED, Due on 6/11)

Please analyze your language example(s) using the communication model.
Note that the analysis results should be presented in the following format.
For more information about communication model, please find the link below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Models_of_communication#Constructionist_Model

Name:
Date of observation:
Content of the dialogue:

A.    What are the basic component parts of the communication process? Please be specific.

Sender (name/role): Language/Message/Channel:

Receiver (name/role): Response/Feedback:

B.    What about the noise and the environment?

Environment (physical/contextual):

Noise (physical/psychological/physiological/semantic):

C.    Is the message well received? Why (not)?

Discussion Forum 2: Who on Earth are We? (Optional, DUE on 6/29)

Have you ever thought carefully about who on earth you are?
In what way are you similar to or different from people around you?
Why is that so? Please share with us what you think!

Discussion Forum 1: What do You Know about English? (Optional, DUE on 6/29)

English has long been part of our life (no matter why and how it is involved).
Please share with us what you know about English and what you EXPECT to know about English.

Class Schedule (Last Edited on 6/9)

This course provides students with cultural and social aspects to human language.
Major topics include the purpose, structure, development and variation of (English) language.
Relevant film and video clips are introduced as a primary source of language samples.
Students’ active exploration and in-depth investigation are encouraged through their participation in small group sharing and online discussion.

WK 1
MON: What do you know about language? (Globish! lingua franca!)
(*Class material, Part 1-3)
TUE: Why not just go out and collect examples? (Also start to search Wikipedia for more!)
(Class material, Part 4)
THU/FRI: What is language/paralanguage? Why do we need it? (dialect? register?)
(Class material, Part 5-6)

WK 2
MON/TUE: How do we use language? (euphemism? political correctness?)
(Class material, Part 6-7)
THU/FRI: How is language studied? (language contact? language death?)
(Class material, Part 8-9)

WK 3 
MON/TUE: How is language taught and learned? (language change? language transfer?)
(Class material, Part 10-11)
THU: How does language evolve? (creole? pidgin?)
(Class material, Part 12)
FRI: What about your own language examples? (Final)

Notes:
(1) The class schedule is tentative and subject to change to accommodate student need and interest.
(2) *The required text, BBC - Who on Earth are We? is available online (http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/webcast/tae_whoonearth_archive.shtml).

Course Objectives

This course aims to explore language as a cultural product of human society.
The target (English) language is to be analyzed and discussed to help students discover its dynamic relationship with various cultural elements (such as beliefs, values, roles, statuses, social collectives, manners and customs).
Through completion of the course, students will be able to think and reflect critically about (1) examples of real-life language use and (2) relations between language and social/cultural practices.

Note that students will be evaluated as follows: Attendance (30%), class participation (30%), final - group oral presentation (40%).