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Unit of study_

INDG2005: Learning an Australian Language

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Gamilaraay is an Indigenous Australian language from the mid-northwest of NSW that is currently undergoing revitalisation. This unit of study will provide students with a basic competence in speaking, understanding, reading and writing Gamilaraay sufficient to recognise and construct simple utterances in the language, and to understand its relationships with other languages. Classes will progressively develop each student's abilities in the language.

Unit details and rules

Unit code INDG2005
Academic unit Art, Communication and English Administration
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
KOCR2605
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 1000 level in Indigenous Studies
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Susan Poetsch, susan.poetsch@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Tracey-Anne Cameron, tracey.cameron@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Weekly quizzes
n/a
20% Multiple weeks 900 words
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Assignment Weekly recordings
n/a
20% Multiple weeks 900 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Participation group assignment Conversation 1
n/a
5% Week 07 225 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Participation group assignment Conversation 2
n/a
20% Week 13 900 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Online task Final quiz
n/a
10% Week 14 (STUVAC)
Due date: 07 Jun 2020 at 23:59
450 words
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO11 LO10 LO8 LO6
Assignment Essay
n/a
15% Week 14 (STUVAC)
Due date: 07 Jun 2020 at 23:59
675 words
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO9 LO10 LO11 LO12
Assignment Final writing
n/a
10% Week 14 (STUVAC)
Due date: 07 Jun 2020 at 23:59
450 words
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO6 LO10 LO11
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Work of exceptional standard. Written work demonstrates initiative and ingenuity in research and reading, pointed and critical analysis of material, innovative interpretation of evidence, makes an insightful contribution to debate, engages with values, assumptions and contested meanings contained within original evidence, develops abstract or theoretical arguments on the strength of detailed research and interpretation. Properly documented; writing characterised by creativity, style, and precision. High Distinction work is always second marked.

Distinction

75 - 84

Work of a superior standard. Written work demonstrates initiative in research and reading, complex understanding and original analysis of subject matter and its context, both empirical and theoretical; makes good attempt to ‘get behind’ the evidence and engage with its underlying assumptions, takes a critical, interrogative stance in relation to argument and interpretation, shows critical understanding of the principles and values underlying the course. Properly documented; writing characterised by style, clarity, and some creativity.

Credit

65 - 74

Highly competent work, demonstrating clear capacity to complete honours successfully. Evidence of extensive reading and initiative in research, sound grasp of subject matter and appreciation of key issues and context. Engages critically and creatively with the question, and attempts an analytical evaluation of material. Makes a good attempt to critique various interpretations, and offers a pointed and thoughtful contribution to an existing debate. Evidence of ability to think theoretically as well as empirically, to conceptualise and problematise issues. Well written and documented.

Pass

50 - 64

Work has considerable merit, though honours is not recommended. Written work contains evidence of a broad and reasonably accurate command of the subject matter and some sense of its broader significance, offers synthesis and some evaluation of material, demonstrates an effort to go beyond the essential reading, contains clear focus on the principal issues, understanding of relevant arguments and diverse interpretations, and a coherent argument grounded in relevant evidence, though there may be some weaknesses of clarity or structure. Articulate, properly documented.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 02 1. Hello, what’s this/that?, goodbye; 2. Yes/no questions and answers Seminar (3 hr)  
1. This & that, contrast; 2. Who are you?, are you good? Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 03 1. Verbs: y class, ‘going to’ (allative) suffix; 2. Verbs: y class: more tenses Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 04 1. Where is it?, the place (locative) suffix; 2. Possession Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 05 1. To, from and at; 2. Adjectives - gayrrda Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 06 1. L class verbs, transitivity, doer.to/ergative suffix Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 07 1. Doer.to/actor and instrument; 2. Verbs ng class, rr class Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 08 1. What for, whose, who for? Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 09 1. Pronouns: singular; 2. Verbs continuous – non-moving Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 10 1. Verbs continuous – moving; 2. More suffixes Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 11 1. More pronouns: dual & plural; 2. Pronouns: locative and ablative Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 12 1. Other third person pronouns; 2. Revision, practice Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 13 Revision Seminar (3 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: Students are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board which will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lecture Recording: Lectures for this unit of study are not recorded. Language learning is best done in company with other people. 
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.

  • Textbook: Garay Guwaala 1

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. pronounce and recognise up to 200 words in Gamilaraay correctly
  • LO2. understand and speak a variety of simple sentence forms in Gamilaraay
  • LO3. understand and respond to simple Gamilaraay commands
  • LO4. initiate and participate in simple Gamilaraay conversations
  • LO5. respond effectively to unfamiliar problems in unfamiliar contexts
  • LO6. read and write simple sentences and texts in Gamilaraay
  • LO7. use oral, written, and visual communication to further your own learning and as tools for interacting and relating to others
  • LO8. explain the basic grammatical rules of Gamilaraay
  • LO9. discuss the importance of language revival and its processes
  • LO10. identify, define and analyse problems and identify or create processes to solve them
  • LO11. use information in critical thinking and problem solving contexts to construct knowledge
  • LO12. demonstrate an appreciation of and respect for Indigenous Australian linguistic and cultural diversity.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

To continually improve the teaching of this unit, we always appreciate student feedback.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.