English - Free topic A: English around the world
Course content
The course introduces students to key sociolinguistic theories and methods through studies of the role and status of English in different countries around the world: From debates about English Only in the US to the balance between English and Irish in Ireland. From the status of English in former British colonies such as Australia and India to English in Asian countries such as Japan and Mongolia. And from the prominence of English in Denmark to the very different role played by English in Southern and Eastern European countries.
Each week focuses on a new setting and introduces students to a new theoretical perspective within sociolinguistics, including sociophonetics, language attitudes, language ideologies, language policy, language variation and change, language and power, language and ethnicity, and language and identity.
Students will also be introduced to sociolinguistic methods of data collection and data analysis, including digital methods. As part of the portfolio exam students will work on their own empirical projects, drawing on the theories and methods they have been introduced to during the course.
Class discussion, group work, lectures, peer feedback.
This is a compendium and textbook-free course. Research articles and book chapters will be available online (for free) through the university library. A detailed course plan including readings for each week will be made available via Absalon before the course begins. Students are responsible for getting hold of the material listed in the course plan and read it in advance of each session, but please do not hesitate to contact the course teachers if you have problems locating particular items.
This course only leads to exams Free Topic 1, Free Topic 2 and Free Topic 3.
Sign up for international students:
Proof of English proficiency is required if you want to take this course. Find the requirements here: https://studies.ku.dk/study-abroad/exchange/course-information/proof-of-english-proficiency/
Exchange students: apply for courses in Mobility Online. Questions regarding course registration should be directed to visitingstudents@hum.ku.dk .
International fee-paying guest students: visit https://humanities.ku.dk/education/guest/ on how to sign up for courses.
- ECTS
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Portfolio, A joint portfolio uploaded in digital exam: Deadline June 6th 2025
- Type of assessment details
- A portfolio uploaded in Digital Exam:
- one 4-5-page essay in course week 5 with peer feedback
- one 3-4-page synopsis in course week 9 with peer feedback
- one 14-16-page mini research project to be submitted with final portfolio. The mini research project has to be based on empirical data collection and analysis using methods introduced in the course. The topic for this project can be chosen among the course topics and has to be approved by the teachers in course week 9 at the latest. - Exam registration requirements
-
This course only leads to exams Free Topic 1, Free Topic 2 and Free Topic 3.
Criteria for exam assessment
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 56
- Preparation
- 353,5
- English
- 409,5
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- HENKF2501U
- ECTS
- 15 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
Full Degree Master choice
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Spring
- Schedulegroup
-
See schedule
- Capacity
- 35
If there are more registrations than places, the places are allocated by random draw. - Studyboard
- Study board of English, Germanic and Romance Studies
Contracting department
- Department of English, Germanic and Romance Studies
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Humanities
Course Coordinators
- Dorte Lønsmann (10-6c74776d767b7569767648707d7536737d366c73)
- Anna Bothe Jespersen (3-696a7248707d7536737d366c73)
Timetable
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Courseinformation of students