Linguistics and Bilingualism: Cultural Nuances and Social Contexts

Class Description: Exploring the Dynamics of Bilingualism
This 8-week course offers an engaging and comprehensive exploration of bilingualism and the rich linguistic, social, and cultural dynamics it encompasses. Whether you have a personal connection to bilingualism or a budding interest in languages, this class will provide valuable insights into how bilingual communities navigate the complexities of communication, identity, and cultural exchange.

What Will Be Taught?
The fundamentals of bilingualism: what it is and why it matters.
The social, cultural, and linguistic forces that shape language use in bilingual contexts.
How languages evolve and adapt over time through processes like language shift, attrition, pidginization, and creolization.
Practical tools for observing and analyzing language use in everyday life.

Topics Covered
How languages function in social groups and build community; strategies for preserving heritage languages in diverse societies; the interplay between language forms, social identity, and functionality; why and how languages fade or change over time; the birth and evolution of new languages; understanding that linguistic variation is natural and ongoing; how governments and communities shape language use and revival; reflecting on the future of bilingualism and what learners have discovered.

Classes include lecture-style video content, engaging slides, and thought-provoking questions. My teaching style is interactive, approachable, and rooted in fostering curiosity. Lessons are designed to include lectures that break down complex topics into digestible and relatable segments, slides to visually enhance and reinforce key ideas, discussion prompts to encourage learners to think critically and apply the material, and optional surveys for learners to engage with family and friends, connecting class content to real-world experiences. 

Learners will have multiple opportunities to interact by posting responses to weekly survey questions and share insights in class discussions. They may also message me with questions, reflections, or connections made outside of class and participate in discussion boards where I will provide feedback and further questions to deepen understanding.

I prioritize making learning relatable and meaningful. My lessons include examples from real-world contexts, diverse communities, and linguistic case studies. I believe in empowering students to explore their own experiences with language and culture while discovering the broader implications of bilingualism.

This course is designed for learners to develop an appreciation for the complexities of bilingualism and a deeper understanding of how language connects us all.