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Foundations of English unit (EPR110)

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Unit year 2026

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Location: Cradle Coast, Launceston, Online

Introduction

This is the first of three English units you will undertake in the B.Ed. degree. The foundations of English are explored in two key modules, with the first focusing on the nature of language, culture, and how young people learn to develop language from birth including oracy, reading and writing, and the second provoking curiosity about language functions and forms. It also introduces the beginnings of critical thinking about texts and their role in culture and society. This unit has a major focus on the Language and Literacy Strands of the Australian Curriculum: English, and aims to develop understandings of the nature of language and how it works in contemporary society and schools. You will engage in close studies of language development and written texts and consider the implications for learning contexts. This unit provides a foundation to the discipline of English and will be the basis for two English units that follow.

Summary

Unit name Foundations of English
Unit code EPR110
Credit points 12.5
College/School Arts and Society
Faculty of Education
Discipline Education
Coordinator Doctor Vinh To
Available as an elective? Yes
Delivered By University of Tasmania
Level Introductory

Sustainable Development Goals

The Unit Coordinator has identified that this unit aligns with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on the alignment of the unit with these goals.

Availability

Location Study period Attendance options Available to
Cradle Coast Semester 1 This unit is available through on-campus delivery Available to International Students Available to Domestic Students
Launceston Semester 1 This unit is available through on-campus delivery Available to International Students Available to Domestic Students
Online Semester 1 This unit is available through off-campus delivery Available to International Students Available to Domestic Students
Online Summer This unit is available through off-campus delivery Available to International Students Available to Domestic Students
  • Key:
  • This unit is available through on-campus delivery On-campus
  • This unit is available through off-campus delivery Off-Campus
  • Available to International Students International students
  • Available to Domestic Students Domestic students
Note

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Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.

Key Dates

Study Period Start date Census date WW date End date
Semester 1 22/2/2026 16/3/2026 19/4/2026 13/6/2026
Summer 1/1/2026 12/1/2026 23/1/2026 14/2/2026

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply knowledge of culture, language and literacy concepts including the Big 6.
  • Analyse and interpret children's language use, and reading and writing.
  • Demonstrate academic and information literacy skills.

Fee Information

Field of Education Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 Domestic Full Fee 4
070103 $592.00 $592.00 not applicable $2,562.00
  • Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
  • HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility3
  • FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility4

1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Teaching

Teaching Pattern

External Students: This unit is fully online – you will engage with the unit through

weekly lectures, readings, tutorial tasks and discussions on MyLO, and through the completion of

assignment work. It is expected that you will timetable 10 hours of study time per week,

realising that this includes time spent reading or viewing resources provided to you,

searching for additional information/resources necessary for the completion of

assessment task and other activities, and participating in weekly tasks and online

discussions.

On Campus Students: This unit is a blended unit. Lectures for this unit are delivered online and you can access them within MyLO. Listening to online lectures is required prior to your on-campus work for the week. Along with accessing lectures online, you may be required to engage in other online activities to complete the unit. You are required to attend a two-hour tutorial on-campus per week for this unit. Combined with online lectures, readings, and assessment work, your time commitment for this unit should be approximately 10 hours per week.

 

AssessmentParticipation and Engagement (15%)|Understanding Language (40%)|Analysing and Interpreting Language (45%)
TimetableView the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

 

Carey, M., To., V. & Gao., X. (2025). Language and literacy: Essential Knowledge for all teachers. Cambridge University Press.

Humphrey, S. & Feez, S. (2024). Grammar and meaning (2nd.). Primary English Teaching Association Australia.

 

 
Recommended

Bearne, E., & Reedy, D. (2018). Teaching primary English: Subject knowledge and classroom practice. Routledge.

Emmitt, M., Zbaracki, M., Komesaroff, L., & Pollock, J. (2014). Language and learning: An introduction for teaching (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Fellowes, J., & Oakley, G. (2020). Language, literacy and early childhood education (3nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Hill, S. (2012). Developing early literacy: Assessment and teaching (2nd ed.). Eleanor Curtain.

Derewianka, B. (2022). A new grammar companion for primary teachers (3rd ed.). Primary English Teaching Association Australia.

Derewianka, B. (2015). The contribution of genre theory to literacy education in Australia. In J. Turbill, G. Barton & C. Brock (Eds.), Teaching writing in today's classrooms: Looking back to look forward (pp.69-86). 

Derewianka, B. & Jones, P. (2010). From traditional grammar to functional grammar: bridging the divide. NALDIC Quarterly, 8 (1), 6-17. https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2000&context=sspapers

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