Overview

This unit will help pre-service teachers to understand the development of language and literacy skills for children in the early years (from birth to eight years of age), and the implications that it will have on planning, teaching and learning. The unit introduces pre-service teachers to a range of theoretical perspectives that underpins the development of language and literacy. Pre-service teachers will explore learning environments, experiences, activities and strategies for developing children’s oral language in different settings with links made to relevant guiding curriculum documents. In addition, pre-service teachers will examine culture and home language, develop strategies for teaching children learning English as a second language, and explore the concept of parent-educator partnerships.

Requisites

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
26-February-2024
26-May-2024
Last self-enrolment date
10-March-2024
Census date
31-March-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
12-April-2024
Results released date
02-July-2024
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into oral language development in the early years and the implications for teaching
  • Examine and present an approach for teaching speaking and listening skills in the early years
  • Demonstrate broad knowledge of, understanding of, and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and languages
  • Design a culturally and linguistically sensitive approach that could support connecting with families and strengthen family literacy practices
  • Demonstrate appropriate personal literacy skills

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Lecture
1.00 12 weeks 12
On-campus
Class
2.00 12 weeks 24
Specified Activities
Various
6.00 8 weeks 48
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning
5.50 12 weeks 66
TOTAL150

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning
12.50 12 weeks 150
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
EssayIndividual 20% 1,5 
Online QuizzesIndividual 20% 
Oral PresentationIndividual 30% 2,3,5 
PortfolioIndividual 30% 4,5 

Content

  • Definitions of language and literacy
  • Theories of language and literacy development
  • Components of language e.g. phonology, semantics, grammar, morphology, pragmatics
  • Oral language development in the early years
  • Culture, language and oral traditions
  • Strategies to support children whose home/first language is a language other than English
  • Contemporary research into literacy development
  • Digital technologies in language and literacy development
  • Government policies and guiding curriculum documents related to English and literacy – links to EYLF (Early Years Learning Framework) and or the VEYLDF (Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework) and relevant National and/or State or Territory curriculum
  • Personal literacy skills

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.