THEL628 - Special Study in Ancient Languages

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

Nil

Unit rationale, description and aim

Through a study of ancient languages, students come to a deeper appreciation of ancient history and the world of biblical texts. This unit will allow a student to progress beyond THEL625 Biblical Hebrew B or THEL626 New Testament Greek B, or to learn another ancient language with significance for biblical study, such as Aramaic. It will be offered when there is a sufficient cohort of students and a lecturer available. Overall, this unit will enable students to extend their study of ancient languages.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Demonstrate knowledge of the morphology, grammar, and syntax of the language being studied (GA5; GA10);

LO2 - Read and translate texts from the language being studied into English and vice versa (GA4; GA5; GA8; GA9);

LO3 - Identify methods relevant to biblical studies and engage in more detailed study and interpretation of biblical scriptures and traditions from a linguistic perspective (GA4; GA5; GA8)

Graduate attributes

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

GA10 - utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.

Content

Topic(s) will be chosen from a particular area of expertise of the member of staff or visiting lecturer in consultation with the Head of School.

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit involves 150 hours of focused learning. The total includes formally structured learning activities such as lectures, tutorials, online learning, videoconferencing, or supervision. The remaining hours typically involve reading, research, and the preparation of tasks for assessment.

Underlying the teaching and learning strategy will be constructivist and andragogical principles which emphasise that students are active, adult learners who engage best when what they are learning is relevant to them and they are responsible for their own learning. The focus, therefore, will be on student-centred learning, with consideration given to how the learning content applies to the students themselves and their contemporary context.

Assessment strategy and rationale

A range of assessment options will be used to meet the learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. Such assessment tasks may include, but are not limited to: essays, reports, book reviews, in-class presentations, case studies and analytic activities. The assessment tasks will provide students with the opportunity to engage in further exploration of a variety of aspects of the unit content, to demonstrate an understanding of key concepts and theories, and to engage critically with some key texts in the field.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

A full list of reading will be made available by the lecturer in charge of the unit in the extended unit outline, based on the area to be covered.