Module Information
Module Identifier
IPM9605
Module Title
Introduction to Language Policy in Wales
Academic Year
2015/2016
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Other Staff
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | 1 x 1,500 word briefing report | 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment | 1 x 1,500 word briefing report | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. Identify the main policy and legislative measures that are currently being implemented, at both the national and local levels, as part of the effort to
maintain and revitalize the Welsh language.
2. Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these legislative and policy measures.
3. Discuss the significance of different revitalization measures with reference to general themes such as national and local governance, public
administration, law and justice, civil rights, nation building and national identity.
Brief description
The module will begin by looking in detail at the elements that provide the national framework for the current effort to promote the prospects of the Welsh language. The first seminar will focus on the Welsh Government’s key language strategy documents, firstly, the national Welsh-language strategy, A Living Language, A Language for Living (2012-17), and secondly, the Welsh-medium Education Strategy. The second seminar will then explore the implications of the 2011 Welsh Language Measure, which, among other thing, included a clear declaration of the Welsh language’s status as an official language and also established the role of the Welsh Language Commissioner. The final session will step down from the national level to focus on local language planning efforts in favor of Welsh. This will involve reflecting on the challenges that emerge when general, national aims seek to be implemented in different local contexts which are often characterized by varying linguistic demographics.
Aims
The module aims to provide a detailed introduction to the key policy and legislative measures that are currently being implemented, at both the national and the local levels, as part of the effort to maintain and revitalize the prospects of the Welsh language and to develop among those that study it an ability to critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these measures and also to explore their significance in relation to general themes such as national and local governance, public administration, law and justice, civil rights, nation building and national identity.
Content
1. The Welsh Government’s language strategies
2. The 2011 Welsh Language measure and the Welsh Language Commissioner
3. Local language planning
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | n/a |
| Communication | Students will develop their ability to present their ideas and arguments both verbally and in writing. They will learn the importance of information and clear communication and how to exploit these. They will learn how to use the many sources of information available and how to use the most appropriate form of communication to best advantage. They will learn to be clear in their writing and speaking and to be direct about aims and objectives. They will learn to consider only that which is relevant to the topic, focus and objectives of their argument or discussion. Students will also be required to submit their assessment in word-processed format and the presentation of this work should reflect effective expression of ideas and good use of language skills in order to ensure clarity, coherence and effective communication. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | The module aims to promote self-management but within a context in which support and assistance is available from both the module convenor and fellow students alike. Students will be expected to enhance their own learning and performance by undertaking independant research and exercising their own initiative, including searching for relevant sources. |
| Information Technology | Students will be expected to submit the assessed work in word-processed format, via the on-line platform Blackboard. Also, students will be encouraged to search for sources of information on the web, as well as seeking sources through electronic information sources. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | The module will be offered as CPD provision which can be used by individuals to facilitate professional career progression. |
| Problem solving | Independent work and problem solving will be a central goal for the module. While preparing the written assessment students will be required to develop independent research skills as well as problem solving skills. The ability of students to solve problems will be developed and assessed by asking them to: adopt differing points of view; organize data and formulate an answer to the problem; reason logically; construct theoretical arguments; divide issues into smaller problems. |
| Research skills | Students will be required to undertake independent research when preparing for the teaching sessions and also when preparing the assessed work. This will involve utilizing a range of information sources, including core academic texts. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Students have the opportunity to develop, practice and test a range of subject specific skills that help them to understand, conceptualise and evaluate examples and ideas on the module. These subject specific skills include: • Collect and understand a wide range of data relating to the module • Evaluate competing perspectives • Apply general concepts and frameworks in relation to complex social and political problems. |
| Team work | For certain topics covered in the module, seminars will consist of small-group discussions where students will be asked to discuss as a group the core issues related to the seminar topic. These class discussions and debates will allow students to approach and examine a given topic through team work. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7