Hong Kong Institute of Education
Course Outline
Part I
Programme Title:
Bachelor of Education (Honours) (English Language) (Five-year
Full-time) Primary
Bachelor of Education (Honours) (English Language) (Five-year
Full-time) Secondary
BA (Hons.) in Language Studies
Course Title:
Language and Gender
Course code:
ENG 4267
Department:
Linguistics and Modern Language Studies
Credit Points :
3
Contact Hours :
39
Pre-requisite(s):
Introduction to Sociolinguistics
Medium of Instruction: English
Level:
4
For Second Major (English Language): Elective Course
For Minor (English Language): Not available
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Part II
1. Synopsis: This course provides students with opportunities to review theories and current
issues in the field of language and gender studies related to practical communication. The
focus is on how gender is represented and constructed in both spoken and written discourse. It
aims to develop awareness of and sensitivity to gender implications of English language use
in diverse contexts.
2. Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs)
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
CILO1
CILO2
CILO3
demonstrate a sound and critical understanding of key concepts and current issues
in the study of language and gender; [PILO4 (SPK1) & PILO7 (GC1)]
analyse issues of gender and power relations as they are represented in language;
[PILO1 (SK1)]
demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical applications of language and
gender studies in various Hong Kong settings. [PILO7 (GC1) & PILO9 (GC3)]
3. Course Intended Language Learning Outcomes (CILLOs)
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
CILLO1 develop awareness of and sensitivity to gender implications of English language
use in diverse contexts. [PILO4 (SPK1), PILO7 (GC1) & PILO8 (GC2)]
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4. Content, CILOs and Teaching & Learning Activities
Course Content
CILOs/CILLOs
Suggested Teaching &
Learning Activities
Introduction to language and gender
CILO 1 , 2
studies:

Overview of historical and
theoretical development;

Gender and sex;

Dominance vs. difference;

Feminist approaches to
language;

Diversity perspective
Gendered spoken discourse:
CILO 1, 2 , 3

‘Verbal hygiene’ and political
CILLO 1
correctness;

Girl-talk/boy-talk in adolescent
speech

Women and men talking
Readings, lectures, and class
activities, and group
presentations; assigned
reading(s) will be indicated in
the course schedule; students are
expected to have completed the
assigned reading(s) of the week
before class.
Gendered written discourse:

Proverbs and quotations

Gender identity and the mass
media;

Gender representation in Hong
Kong popular culture;

Gender representation in
children’s and adolescent
literature
Gendered discourses in the language
classroom:

Gender representation in
language textbooks;

Construction of gender in the
classroom;

Gender and classroom
interaction
CILO 1, 2 , 3
CILLO 1
Readings, lectures, and class
activities, and group
presentations; assigned
reading(s) will be indicated in
the course schedule; students are
expected to have completed the
assigned reading(s) of the week
before class.
CILO 1, 2 , 3
CILLO 1
Readings, lectures, and class
activities, and group
presentations; assigned
reading(s) will be indicated in
the course schedule; students are
expected to have completed the
assigned reading(s) of the week
before class.
2
Readings, lectures, and class
activities, and group
presentations; assigned
reading(s) will be indicated in
the course schedule; students are
expected to have completed the
assigned reading(s) of the week
before class.
5. Assessment
Assessment Tasks
A critical gender analysis of texts (spoken or
written) given by the lecturer(s) and
conducted under examination conditions.
A written essay (1,500 words) demonstrating
a basic understanding of current issues in the
field of language and gender studies. Students
are required to collect authentic linguistic data
(written or spoken), and employ basic
sociolinguistic analytical methodologies.
Weighting (%)
50
50
CILOs / CILLOs
CILOs 1, 2 & 3
CILLO 1
CILOs 1, 2 & 3
CILLO 1
6. Required Text(s)
Goddard, A. and Meân, L. (2008). Language and gender. New York: Routledge.
7. Recommended Readings
Cameron, D. (Ed.) (1998). The feminist critique of language: A reader (2nd ed.). London:
Routledge.
Cameron, D. (2005). Language, gender, and sexuality: Current issues and new directions.
Applied Linguistics, 26(4): 482-502.
Coates, J. (2004). Women, men and language: A sociolinguistic account of gender
differences in language. Harlow, UK: Longman.
Eckert, P. and McConnell-Ginet, S. (2003). Language and gender. New York: Cambridge
University Press.
Lakoff, R.T. (2004). Language and woman's place: Text and commentaries. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
Litosseliti, L. (2006). Gender and language: Theory and practice. London: Hodder Arnold.
Mills, S. (1995). (Ed.) Language and gender: Interdisciplinary perspectives. London:
Longman.
Speer, S.A. (2005). Gender talk: Feminism, discourse and conversation analysis. London:
Routledge.
Sunderland, J. (2004). Gendered discourse. London: Palgrave.
Sunderland, J. (2006). Language and gender: An advanced resource book. Abingdon:
Routledge.
Sunderland, J. et al., (1997). Gender in language textbooks: Looking beyond textual
imbalance. Centre for Research in Language Education, Lancaster University.
Sunderland, J. et al., (2000). From bias ‘in the text’ to ‘teacher talk around the text’: An
exploration of teacher discourse and gendered foreign language textbook texts. Linguistics
and Education, 11(3), 251-286.
Talbot, M.M. (1998). Language and gender: An introduction. Cambridge: Polity.
Tannen, D. (1991). You just don’t understand: Women and men in conversation. London:
Virago.
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8. Related Web Resources
Equal Opportunities Commission Research Reports:
http://www.eoc.org.hk/EOC/GraphicsFolder/InforCenter/Research/default.aspx
Equal Opportunities Commission Conference Papers:
http://www.eoc.org.hk/EOC/graphicsfolder/inforcenter/conference/content.aspx?type=8&date
time=2009
9. Related Journals
Gender and Education
Gender and Society
Journal of Gender Studies
Sex Roles
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