Mother Tongue: Applied Linguistics Intro

An introduction to applied linguistics and
language study, MOTHER TONGUE focuses on the
theory, practice, methods of enquiry,
understanding, and empathy necessary for language
acquisition, effective inter/cross cultural
communication, and artistic collaboration. Taking
advantage of the rich cultural and linguistic
diversity at CalArts, this course creates a shared
space for those for whom English is a "mother
tongue" and those for whom English is not a
"mother tongue." Together monolingual speakers and
multilingual speakers will explore the
possibilities, complexity, and promise of
intercultural engagement and develop increased
understanding of new languages and cultures of
communication.

In the course, students will expand their
understanding language acquisition through active
study of a new language of their choice, examine
culturally based verbal and nonverbal
communication styles that are barriers to
effective intercultural collaboration, and
challenge cultural biases, hierarchies, and
Westernized and Standardized
English-language-centric worldviews. The course
will draw purposefully on the expertise of
multilingual students in the language acquisition
process and ask all students to share existing
cultural knowledge to support each other in growth
along a proficiency continuum of intercultural
competencies. The course also interrogates the
legacy of colonialism that has positioned English
in its current role in international
communication, examining such phenomena as the use
of Global English in commerce, the rise of a
multiplicity of forms of English ("Englishes")
around the world including hybrid languages like
Singlish and Spanglish, and the impact of
translingualism in contemporary arts and culture.