IL2GMBG: Modern Britain in Global Society

Module code: IL2GMBG

Module provider: International Study and Language Institute

Credits: 20

Level: 5

When you’ll be taught: Double Presentation: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Lucy Watson , email: l.a.watson@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE IL1GMB (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module explores Britain’s role and position in global society today. We will discuss how British culture is exported, consumed and understood internationally, and ask what it means to be British in today’s globalised world. 

Starting with the spread of British education and the English language during the British Empire, right through to the present day and the influence of British music, film and television, we will look at examples of popular culture to see how Britain’s perceived place in the world has changed in the modern era. We will consider to what extent Britain’s global cultural influence remains strong (for example, through institutions such as its universities and the monarchy), despite geo-political and economic shifts, and ask whether Britain still wields soft power globally and what the future holds for the country on the global stage. 

Some questions explored are: 

• What has been the impact of British culture and English language on the rest of the world?
• How is ‘Britishness’ understood, consumed and reproduced around the world? 
• How have British cultural exports been adapted in different contexts for different audiences? 
• Is there (still) such a thing as British identity?

These questions are placed in a global context. Students will draw on their own experience and cultural backgrounds to make connections between the UK and the rest of the world in order to develop their intercultural understanding.

The assessment is an independent research project based on one of the topics covered.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe and explain key aspects British culture in a global context
2. Demonstrate an understanding of Britain’s role in global society
3. Present ideas in a clear and concise manner including more than one perspective.
4. Demonstrate an ability to research a topic independently.

Module content

The semester will consist of 10 screencasts, which students view before the in-person sessions, and 10 2-hour workshops covering topics relating to key aspects of modern British society, culture, politics, and history. Topics explored may include: Britain and the legacies of Empire, Britain and the global economy, Class and power in Britain, British sub-cultures, counter cultures and activism, British culture exported.

Students will also attend 4 study skills workshops and small group tutorials can be arranged to work on individual assessed projects.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module is delivered using a flipped learning method. Each week students will be asked to watch a screencast and/or engage with reading and other tasks in preparation for a workshop.

Tasks to consolidate learning after the workshop will also require completion. Independent study tasks form a central element of this course and include wider directed reading, preparation for seminars (including independent research) and group study tasks. All tasks and related information are displayed on Blackboard.

Tasks may include watching videos, screencasts, or narrated PowerPoints, reading, completing activities and participating in discussion boards.

At the end of the module, students will prepare an independent project on a topic of their choosing agreed with the module convenor.

This module is taught twice to two different cohorts of students - first in Semester 1 and then repeated in Semester 2. The 200 study hours are listed for the first iteration of teaching in Semester 1, and these same study hours are repeated for the second iteration of teaching in Semester 2.

Study hours

At least 25 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Project plan submitted on BB for discussion in tutorial.

Reassessment

Additional costs