The development of digital and social media has transformed our linguistic and cultural practices. The digital era has also, undoubtedly, brought the world closer to us. A large part of our lives takes place in the digital sphere in which we communicate and interact continuously for professional, educational or social reasons. These global changes and challenges make it urgent to examine the relationship between culture, language and technology. The use of language in the digital world is a key element as it gives a voice to citizens at the same time that it is shaped by the medium where it takes place. For this reason, exploring and examining how language intertwines with digital cultures have become necessary and crucial. In addition, this module will illustrate the significance of studying digital communications and the intersection of critical awareness of digital discourses as well as the concept of digital citizenship within applied linguistics and cultural studies. This module is designed to enable participants to live and work in the digital present and future through the development of the necessary critical, analytical and technical skills needed in examining the relationship between communication, technology and culture. The main aim is the development of competencies related to digital communication and critical digital literacies for digital citizens to be able to navigate and interpret aspects and artefacts of the digital world safely and critically.

A general overview of the concepts underpinning each of the main themes will be followed by a critical exploration and analysis to answer questions such as: are the digital values of society going through significant transformations? How does language reflect this? How can being digital literate help the digital citizen to navigate successfully the on-line world? Finally, a practical approach will be applied to a hands-on and authentic experience of the key concepts (e.g. Digital Literacies, Criticality, Framework of Democratic Cultures), theories (e.g. Connectivism, Post-Connectivism) and technical skills connected to each of the main topics of the module. The syllabus comprises key areas such as digital citizenship, social media, issues in software localisation and cultural adaptation; and machine translation literacy in Video Games localisation. Also, sample practical and theoretical concepts within language-related areas will be covered.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: - Demonstrate a critical understanding of the main concepts and theories related to Digital Communication, Citizenship and Cultures as an interdisciplinary area - Explore the digital literacies and competencies of the digital citizen in the 21st century engaging with current research in the topic - Evaluate and analyse contemporary research related to digital communication and digital cultures, with a specific emphasis on Social Media -Demonstrate an advanced understanding of software language localisation and cultural adaptation within the Video Games Industry - Critically compare the use of different machine translation software

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: - Appreciate cultural differences and diversity by reflecting on transcultural global issues within the digital world as they relate to the values of Digital Citizenship

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: N/A

The module is taught using a combination of face-to-face and online seminars, combined with lab-based sessions. The pedagogical approach focuses on interactivity, collaboration and structured discussion as a mode of learning. This is to support and develop participants' confidence in their knowledge as they articulate and explore complex areas and concepts. A strong practical and applied approach will be present in the lab-based sessions.