English for Media Literacy from Coursera

Welcome to English for Media Literacy, a course created by the University of Pennsylvania, and funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of English Language Programs.

To enroll in this course for free, click on “Enroll now” and then select "Full Course. No certificate."

This course is designed for non-native English speakers who are interested in learning more about U.S. media literacy. In this course, you will explore different types of mass media, such as newspapers, magazines, television, and social media. This course will also give you the opportunity to develop a broader understanding of the role media plays in our lives, while building your vocabulary and giving you the language skills needed to analyze what you read and watch. The first unit in this course will provide an introduction to media literacy and give you an opportunity to evaluate your own media literacy level. In unit 2, you will learn how to identify facts versus opinions in the media. The next unit in the course will focus on the differences between social media and traditional media, while unit 4 will look at how gender and identity are covered in the media. In the final unit of the course, you will demonstrate your increased media literacy by through a culminating final project on social media.

Development of this course was funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Office of English Language Programs. Unless otherwise noted, all course materials are available for re-use, repurposing and free distribution under a Creative Commons 4.0 Attribution license.

What's inside

Syllabus

Unit 1: Introduction to Media Literacy

In this unit, you will learn what media literacy means and how you can improve your own media literacy skills.

Unit 2: Types of Media: Traditional vs. Social

In this unit you will learn about the differences between traditional and social media, and learn the language necessary to compare them.

Unit 3: Advertising

In this unit, you will learn how advertisers use media to market their products.

Bias in the Media

In this unit, we will discuss the meaning of media bias and several common types of bias.

Diversity and the Media

In this unit, we will learn about the importance of including people from various races, cultures, and genders in mainstream media.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on analyzing skills for types of media ranging from newspapers to social media

Offers resources to improve your English language proficiency and vocabulary building

Is offered for free, allowing accessibility to diverse audiences

Has a comprehensive coverage of media literacy, delving into concepts like bias and diversity

Reviews summary

Critical english for media literacy

Learners say much of the feedback they've received from this course is largely positive and overwhelmingly recommend it. According to students, the course provides learners with the tools and language to consume media content with increased critical thinking skills. The engaging assignments and engaging videos make this course popular, as do the knowledgeable instructors and staff of the University of Pennsylvania.

Learners praise the informative videos and interactive assignments that make the learning experience enjoyable and engaging.

"This course was very informative."

"The videos are understandable and accessible explained this or that information to me."

"Engaging, Informative and Fun!"

"I'm grateful to this course which provided me with essential knowledge related with media and at the same time thankful to the staff from Coursera who are all eager to help！"

Students frequently give high marks to the instructors involved with this course. They are described as knowledgeable, engaging and helpful.

"Excellent course! Congratulations for my teachers!!"

"The instructors are real experts in teaching and professionals in online guiding learners. The content is informative and useful!"

"I was able to repeat some facts that I already know and learn new interesting information that I will use every day."

"the course is easy to understand. The instructors give clear information so that won't make me confused."

"I really enjoyed the course "English for Media Literacy" and took much knowledge in types of media, bias in media, kinds of advertisement, and diversity in media too."

Students highlight the practical skills they learned through this course. They report an increased ability to critically evaluate media sources and analyze media messages.

"This course helped me understand media believes and I’m thrilled to learn the lessons. Thank you."

"I have enriched a lot from this course and it has increased my confidence for official communication."

"Un muy buen curso para aprender ingles a partir de un tema especifico (en este caso social media)."

"I learned a lot from this course. This also served as my project in one of my subjects and all the lessons that were discussed here kept me interested."

"The English, especially social media, has become an essential part of our daily lives. This course teaches us how to apply critical thinking and self expression in social media"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in English for Media Literacy with these activities:

Refresh your knowledge of media literacy concepts

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Review key concepts related to media literacy to strengthen your foundation and prepare for the course.

Browse courses on Media Literacy

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Read articles and watch videos on media literacy
Discuss media literacy concepts with friends or family
Take a quiz or assessment to test your understanding

Review U.S. media landscape history

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Start the course with a strong foundation in historical media events and trends to better understand subsequent topics in the course.

Browse courses on Media

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Create a timeline of key milestones in the history of the U.S. media landscape.
Identify major media outlets and individuals who have shaped the U.S. media landscape over time.

Explore social media platforms

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Become familiar with different social media platforms, helping you to understand their impact on society and the type of content shared on each platform.

Browse courses on Media Literacy

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Sign up for accounts on major social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok).
Explore the features and functionality of each platform.
Identify the types of content that are most popular on each platform.

Four other activities

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Analyze different types of media sources

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Practice identifying and comparing different types of media, such as newspapers, magazines, and social media.

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Gather a variety of media sources
Identify the type of media source (e.g., newspaper, magazine, social media)
Analyze the content of each source
Compare and contrast the different sources

Analyze media for bias

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Develop stronger critical thinking skills to differentiate between facts and opinions in media, a skill that is central to this course.

Browse courses on Media Literacy

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Identify different types of bias in media sources.
Practice identifying examples of bias in articles and videos.
Develop a framework for analyzing media for bias.

Create a social media campaign

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Develop a social media campaign that addresses a specific issue or topic related to media literacy.

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Identify a specific issue or topic to address
Develop a social media strategy
Create engaging content
Promote your campaign
Evaluate the effectiveness of your campaign

Develop a media literacy campaign

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Apply your knowledge of media literacy to create a campaign that promotes awareness of media bias and its impact on society, allowing you to connect with other participants in the course in a meaningful way and broaden your impact.

Browse courses on Media Literacy

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Identify a specific aspect of media literacy that you want to focus on.
Develop a plan for your campaign, including your target audience, key messages, and communication channels.
Create content for your campaign, such as videos, articles, or social media posts.
Implement your campaign and track its progress.

Career center

Learners who complete English for Media Literacy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Media Planner

A Media Planner develops and implements advertising campaigns across various media platforms. Understanding media literacy will be instrumental in selecting the most appropriate platforms and strategies to reach the target audience.

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Public Relations Specialist

A Public Relations Specialist manages the reputation of organizations and individuals through media relations and strategic communication. Understanding media platforms, advertising, and the role of media will help build positive relationships with the public and stakeholders.

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Marketer

A Marketer develops and executes marketing strategies to promote products or services. Understanding media platforms, advertising, and the role of media will help create targeted and effective marketing campaigns.

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Social Media Manager

A Social Media Manager plans and executes social media strategies and manages online presence of organizations or individuals. Knowledge of various social media platforms, content creation, and the impact of media on society will be beneficial.

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Journalist

A Journalist researches, writes, and reports on current events. Understanding media bias and the role of media in society can aid in producing accurate and impartial news.

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Politician

A Politician represents the interests of their constituents through lawmaking and policy development. Understanding media bias and the role of media in society is crucial for communicating effectively with the public and shaping public opinion.

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Lawyer

A Lawyer represents and defends clients in legal matters through research, negotiations, and court appearances. Understanding media bias and the role of media in society is key to advocating for clients and navigating complex legal issues.

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Librarian

A Librarian assists library patrons find and access information through reference and research services. Understanding media literacy will enable you to effectively manage and provide insightful guidance on various media formats and information sources.

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Claims Specialist

A Claims Specialist reviews and validates claims and complaints in relation to product defects or service issues. Understanding media bias and the differences between advertising and reporting can aid in impartially assessing these claims.

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Writer

A Writer creates written content for various purposes such as articles, books, reports, and creative works. Understanding media literacy will help analyze and incorporate different media formats and platforms into their writing.

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Researcher

A Researcher designs, conducts, and analyzes research studies to gather data and information. Understanding media literacy will aid in evaluating the credibility of sources and effectively presenting research findings.

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Teacher

A Teacher plans and delivers lessons to students in a variety of educational settings. Understanding media literacy will help develop critical thinking skills and prepare students to navigate the modern media landscape.

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Archivist

An Archivist gathers, preserves, and manages historical documents or records. Knowledge of media formats and platforms will aid in long-term preservation of media content.

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Instructional Designer

An Instructional Designer plans, develops, and delivers training programs or materials. Knowledge of media platforms and social media can help create engaging and effective educational content.

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Paralegal

A Paralegal provides support to lawyers and attorneys with legal research, document preparation, and case management. Understanding media literacy will aid in analyzing legal documents and effectively communicating with clients.

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