This course will explore aspects of language and society by introducing how language works and most importantly how language and literacy learning is built on a foundation of oral language use. Using Vygotskian theories of language and thought and the movement to inner speech, you will be introduced to the language learner's development from oral language to written language using the rich basis of storytelling and other oral traditions and picture books. These oral traditions will be foregrounded using theory from the field of English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D).

A close focus on the National reading panel report (NRP 2000) and the resultant Big Five (NRP, 2000) or Big Six (Konza, 2016) will be the focus of the unit. Building on this knowledge, you will develop an understanding of evidence-based teaching approaches that develop phonemic awareness and introduce phonic knowledge. This course will cover vocabulary knowledge, fluency and reading comprehension. The importance of using pedagogical strategies with a sound evidence base will also be strongly foregrounded throughout this course.

A range of pedagogical strategies together with an overview of resource selection will form a central part of this unit. You will have the opportunity to build your own linguistic knowledge to support your teaching in this unit.