ECE 4012 Cross Cultural Communication in Early Childhood

STAFFING:

RATIONALE:

Successful communication is central to effective learning and teaching in the classroom and participation in the school community. Typically, the curriculum is delivered in the English language but in mainstream classrooms today many children, including those from Indigenous backgrounds, have home or first languages different from the language of instruction. Depending on these children's levels of proficiency in the English language, their English language development may be managed in a range of ways: through team teaching, integrated teaching, pull-out or pull-in teaching or mainstream teacher differentiated instruction in collaboration with specialist teachers. The fact that successful communication depends on understanding both the target language and the culture has implications for both mainstream teachers and children. While ESL learners need to learn the language of instruction, they need to learn about the culture of the target language too. Similarly, for effective cross-cultural communications teachers need to understand the relationship between language and culture, the different language and cultural backgrounds of the children they teach, the nature of language as a system operating within different socio-cultural contexts and the principles and issues involved in cross-cultural communication, second language teaching and learning, and curriculum development.

SYNOPSIS:

This course will examine the relationship of language and culture to communication in the classroom and wider school community context. It will provide an introduction to second language teaching pedagogy, including the communicative approach and reflective practice, study of second language learning and development, and the impact of the linguistic, socio-cultural, psychological and psycholinguistic factors that impact on second language learners. Strategies to support effective cross-cultural communications in the classroom and in the school community, and approaches to managing ESL children's English language development will be explored. Cross-cultural communication as it applies to Indigenous and Pacific Asian cultures will be a special focus. Curriculum knowledge and criteria for evaluation, selection and production of curriculum materials designed to develop children's communicative skills, including the use of ICTs in second language programs, will be developed. IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Children: State law in Queensland requires that all adults (including university students, pre-service educators, trainers, vocational teachers, industry educators) working with children under the age of 18, in the State of Queensland*, obtain approval before commencing such work. Many education courses include a practical component (professional experience, project work, research, assessment etc.) that may require engagement with children under the age of 18. It is your responsibility to ensure that you possess a current suitability card (Blue Card) before commencing any practical components of this course. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNLESS YOU POSSESS A CURRENT 'BLUE CARD'. For further information: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html *If you are undertaking practical experience outside the State of Queensland, Australia you should check local requirements.

OBJECTIVES:

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1. critically discuss the impact of language and culture on communication
2. design and implement strategies to support effective cross-cultural communication
3. demonstrate knowledge of children's second language learning and development
4. demonstrate knowledge of the linguistic, socio-cultural, psychological and psycholinguistic factors that impact on children as second language learners
5. develop a second language pedagogy that takes account of the principles of communicative language teaching and reflective practice
6. create, modify and select curriculum materials to develop ESL children's communicative skills, including use of ICTs.

TOPICS:

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed:

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

NOTES:

1.

Due dates for seminar to be advised.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To complete each of the assignments satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for each assignment.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If assignments are submitted after the due date without an approved extension of time, University penalties may by applied.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of a passing grade, students must demonstrate, via the summative assessment items, that they have achieved the required minimum standards in relation to the objectives of the course by satisfactorily completing all summative assessment items.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   There is no examination in this course.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   There will be no Deferred or Supplementary examinations in this course.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1. Students will require access to e-mail and Internet access to USQConnect for this course.
2. Students are to use a recognised referencing system as specified by the examiner.
3. IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Children: State law in Queensland requires that all adults (including university students, pre-service educators, trainers, vocational teachers, industry educators) working with children under the age of 18, in the State of Queensland*, obtain approval before commencing such work. Many education courses include a practical component (professional experience, project work, research, assessment etc.) that may require engagement with children under the age of 18. It is your responsibility to ensure that you possess a current suitability card (Blue Card) before commencing any practical components of this course. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNLESS YOU POSSESS A CURRENT 'BLUE CARD'. For further information: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html *If you are undertaking practical experience outside the State of Queensland, Australia you should check local requirements.