Overview

MultiDiv is a specialised and highly intensive summer programme for students and academic/non-academic stakeholders interested in Multilingualism, Diversity and Social Justice pedagogy, policy and research from a Linguistics, Modern Languages and Translation Studies angle. MultiDiv is a unique hub which brings together senior academics as well as UG (undergraduate) /PG (postgraduate) research developed through the formal curriculum and relevant extracurricular activities. It takes the form of an intensive, three-week-long activity and involves workshops, data training and sessions on interpreting research for wider audiences, policy makers and the media most notably.

MultiDiv is, by design, relevant to curriculum content directly addressing issues related to multilingualism in society. MultiDiv has already brought together Warwick/Monash students and it is an opportunity to develop a global network which can organically grow through the interests of its community.

Structure: 1 week of preparation, 2 weeks of activities + independent study & group work. We expect full participation in the synchronous activities during the 3 weeks of MultiDiv, as well as all asynchronous activities. After the preparatory week, students will work for 2 weeks in cross-university teams to design and conduct their own research project. At the end of the two weeks, they will present their project as a group. Then, they will have until the first week of October to turn their presentation into a group blog post.

Please note, this description is indicative only and subject to change.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• demonstrate understanding of key, terminology, research methods and theories related to multilingualism
• demonstrate ability to critically discuss different approaches to multilingualism and diversity. Show awareness of key issues around intercultural interaction and the relationship with multilingualism and multiculturalism
• evaluate critically how different theoretical & methodological approaches and concepts help to study multilingualism and diversity
• design and carry out an original small scale study multilingualism, typically from a linguistic landscape angle
• communicate the results of their study to audience

Learning Experience

Delivery

This module is delivered over three weeks in June & July, in hybrid format. Students can take ET227 at the end of their academic first year and carry the credits into their second year, or alternatively ET330 at the end of their second year and carry forward to their final year.

The module consists of 1 week of preparation (June) + 2 weeks intensive delivery (July). During those 2 weeks, you will attend classes every day, which will equip you with the tools to conduct a research project on an aspect of Multilingualism. You will also work independently and in teams with peers from partner institutions to carry out work that enables you to apply theory to practice and address questions you are interested in.

Assessment

Group presentation

Individual sections (50%)

Group blog post

(50%)

Preparatory Reading

1. Angouri, Jo. 2013. “The Multilingual Reality of the Multinational Workplace: Language Policy and Language Use.” Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 34 (6). Routledge: 564–81.

2. Angouri, Jo. 2018. "Quantitative, qualitative, mixed or holistic research? Combining methods in linguistic research". Research methods in linguistics, London: Bloomsbury Publishing: 35-55.

3. Backhaus, P. (2006). “Multilingualism in Tokyo: A look into the linguistic landscape.” In Linguistic Landscape: A New Approach to Multilingualism (pp. 52-66). Channel View Publications.

4. Blackledge, Adrian, and Kiran Trehan. 2018. “Language, Superdiversity, and Self-Employment.” In The Routledge Handbook of Language and Superdiversity, edited by Adrian Blackledge and Angela Creese, 299–311. London: Taylor & Francis.

5. Clyne, Michael, Louisa Willoughby, and Julia Bradshaw. 2009. “Linguistic Diversity in South-East Melbourne.” People and Place 17 (1): 55–62.

6. Creese, Angela, and Adrian Blackledge. 2019. “Translanguaging and Public Service Encounters: Language Learning in the Library.” The Modern Language Journal 103 (4): 800–814.

7. Heller, M., Pietikäinen S. & Pujolar J. (2018). Critical Sociolinguistic Research Methods. Studying language issues that matter. Routledge; -- section 3.2; Observing: Finding out what people do (p. 77-85), & -- section 3.3; Eliciting: Finding out what people say (p. 85-92

8. Musgrave, Simon, Steve Wright, Tom Denison, and Louisa Willoughby. 2020. “Managing Multilingual Collections: Insights from Data Analytics Research.” Journal of Librarianship and Information Science 52 (3). SAGE Publications Ltd: 853–63.

This module is linked to the 'Multilingualism & Diversity' community of the European University Alliance EUTOPIA. As part of this module’s learning experience, you will have the opportunity to work in cross-university, international teams, with students from different disciplinary backgrounds from top institutions in Europe and beyond. This will enable you to apply theory to practice, and expand your horizons and mindset by exploring the local relevance of global issues.