General Information
The Department of Languages at Flinders University has been active in teaching, research and scholarship in the area of modern European languages and cultures for over thirty years. Originally comprising Disciplines in the School of Humanities, since 1995 the Department of Languages (French, Italian, Modern Greek, and Spanish) provides courses catering for a variety of student needs and interests. In January 2007 the TESOL/ESL Section joined the Department. With the establishment in 1997 of a Diploma in Language, students enrolled in other degree courses are now able to access our language offerings in order to make their qualifications more flexible. A Graduate Diploma in Language is available to graduates wishing to take a language not previously studied. Primary and Secondary teachers wishing to acquire, or further their knowledge of a LOTE, may enrol in the Graduate Certificate in Language Teaching or the Graduate Diploma in Language Teaching as part of their professional development. Language teaching in the Department is supported by a modern, well-equipped computer laboratory that provides excellent facilities for computer assisted language learning. The members of the Department are active in a wide range of research areas.
There are two streams of students in each of the Department's language areas. One is for those who are beginners and the other for those who enter with a Year-12 (or equivalent) level of proficiency in the language. Language study is related to the cultural context of the main geographical areas where the language is spoken and, particularly at first-year level for the beginners stream, teaching is designed to lead students as quickly as possible to understand and speak the language with fluency. In the second and third years of a major, the range of material covers many aspects of contemporary society and of the past society and culture associated with the language. The Department has an active fourth year Honours program and Honours courses are available in the languages and their cultures. There are also opportunities for postgraduate study in a variety of fields.
Languages taught by the Department involve active participation and interaction in the classroom. Instructors do all they can to create a relaxed atmosphere in which students can enjoy learning and participate in listening and speaking activities. All languages make extensive use of computer programmes and audio and video materials, which are chosen to develop both linguistic competence and cultural understanding.
In 2007, a new major in Applied Linguistics was created drawing on topics taught in the Department of Languages, the School of Education and the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology. Applied Linguistics can be taken as a Major or a Minor by students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts and in the Bachelor of Education/ Bachelor of Arts. Topics in Applied Linguistics can be taken as Electives in any degree.
The Department of Languages publishes an online journal called FULGOR (Flinders University Languages Group Online Review). For details see the website: http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/deptlang/fulgor/
New in 2008:
Master of Language Studies
Graduate Certificate in Language Teaching
For further information please contact:
Ms Maureen Taylor, Administrative Assistant
Location: Room 211 Humanities Building (campus map)
Phone: (+61 8) 82012124 Fax: (+61 8) 82012784
Email: maureen.taylor@flinders.edu.au
Ms Julie Elkson, Administrative Assistant
Location: Room 211 Humanities Building (campus map)
Phone: (+61 8) 82012052 Fax: (+61 8) 82012784
Email: julie.elkson@flinders.edu.au
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