Language and Education

The course explores the relationship between language learning in school context and the general aims of education in Norwegian schooling. The course discusses in what ways language skills are essential to the educational ideals as expressed in the planning work. The course highlights the relationship between skills and knowledge of languages, and discusses how language learning lays the foundation for efficient, appropriate and considerate interaction with others. In connection with this topics such as relations, values, power, identity, equality, inclusion and unfamiliarity may be discussed.

The candidate can
- describe different language skills
- discuss the role that language subjects in school play in students' general education
- reflect critically upon the objectives as described in the national curriculum for language subjects
- discuss challenges related to society's demand for "literacy"

Seminar- and taskbased teaching with plenary and group discussions. Students are required to participate actively in the formulation of research questions within the areas of the course content. All activities are aimed at preparing for an oral production to be presented in groups at the end of the course.