Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2026 - EDUC 856 G001

Sociocultural Perspectives on Education and Identity (5)

Class Number: 1791

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 11 – Aug 10, 2026: Wed, 4:30–9:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Course activities will be structured for participants to consider recent formulations of learners as agents as well as subjects of culturally constructed, socially imposed worlds. Participants will examine a number of ethnographic descriptions of the experiences of learners in a variety of communities, noting in particular their use of diverse mediations/tools, including language. Participants will consider these ideas in relation to their own educational communities and develop plans for research activity in those sites. Equivalent Courses: EDUC713

COURSE DETAILS:

This course explores sociocultural perspectives on language and identity in a variety of educational contexts, focusing on conceptualizations of language, learning, and language teachers and learners. It will examine social perspectives on language, language learning, and identity and how those perspectives differ from or complement other perspectives. Students will explore implications of sociocultural and identity-related factors for their own and others’ teaching and learning contexts.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • Become familiar with and develop perspectives on sociocultural and identity topics in language education
  • Develop a critical awareness of teachers’ and students’ identity negotiation/formation and its relationship to language teaching/learning
  • Apply theory and research on sociocultural and identity-related aspects of language ed

Grading

  • Active learning/participation 10%
  • Reading Responses  30%
  • Discussion facilitation 20%
  • Major paper 40%

Materials

RECOMMENDED READING:

do not worry about buying these (yet); many are available in the SFU library.

Block, D. (2021). Innovations and Challenges in Identity Research (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/10.4324/9780429356186  

ISBN 978-0-429-35618-6 (ebk)

Block, D. (2014). Second Language Identities. Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781472526045

Norton, B. (2013). Identity and Language Learning: Extending the Conversation (2nd ed.). Multilingual Matters. ISBN 978-1783090549

Toohey, K. (2018) Learning English at School: Identity, Socio-material Relations and Classroom Practice. Multilingual Matters, 2018. https://doi.org/10.21832/9781788920094 ISBN 978-1788920070

 


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.