This course aims at helping students gain an understanding of the role of language and literacy education in the socio-economic development of many societies. After the introduction of basic concepts in sociolinguistics and in literacy, we will compare linguistic situations in selected parts of the world and then take up major issues such as multilingualism, literacy education, including definitions and types of literacies, language planning policies, and how to integrate linguistic and educational issues in development projects.

Some of the topics to be treated include:

• Definitions and types of literacy
• The relationship between language and literacy
• Computer literacy and language educational technology
• Writing and other symbolic systems
• Acquisition of language and literacy
• Comparative analyses of the language and literacy situations in selected parts of the world, including Hong Kong, Mainland China, and South-east Asia
• Literacy and socio-economic development
  

• Edwards, Viv and David Corson (eds). 1997. Encyclopedia of Language and Education, Vol. 2: Literacy Kluwer Academic Publishers. (especially sections 2 and 3)
• Olson, David. 1999. Literacy. In R. wilson and Frank C. Neil (eds). The MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences. MIT Press, pp.481-482
• Street, Brian. 1984. Literacy in Theory and Practice. Cambridge University Press.