This article describes a longitudinal ethnographic research project in a Grade 1 classroom enrolling L2 learners and Anglophones. Using a community-of-practice perspective rarely applied in L2 research, the author examines three classroom practices that she argues contribute to the construction of L2 learners as individuals and as such reinforce traditional second language acquisition perspectives. More importantly, they serve to differentiate participants from one another and contribute to community stratification. In a stratified community in which the terms of stratification become increasingly visible to all, some students become defined as deficient and are thus systematically excluded from just those practices in which they might otherwise appropriate identities and practices of growing competence and expertise.
*from Abstract* Maybin, Janet; Mercer, Neil and Stierer, Barry (1992). 'Scaffolding': learning in the classroom. In: Norman, Kate ed. Thinking Voices: The work of the National Oracy Project. London: Hodder & Stoughton, pp. 186–195.
There has tended to be an overemphasis on the teaching and analysis of the mode of writing in ‘academic literacies’ studies, even though changes in the communica- tion landscape have engendered an increasing recognition of the different semiotic dimensions of representation. This paper tackles the logocentrism of academic lit- eracies and argues for an approach which recognises the interconnection between different modes, in other words, a ‘multimodal’ approach to pedagogy and to theoris- ing communication. It explores multimodal ways of addressing unequal discourse resources within the university with its economically and culturally diverse student body. Utilising a range of modes is a way of harnessing the resources that the students bring with them. However, this paper does not posit multimodality as an alternative way of inducting students into academic writing practices. Rather, it explores what happens when different kinds of ‘cultural capital’ (Bourdieu, 1991) encounter a range of generic forms, modes and ways of presenting information. It examines how certain functions are distributed across modes in students’ texts in a first year engineering course in a South African university (specifically scientific discourse and student affect) and begins to problematise the visual/verbal distinction.
Textuality is often thought of in linguistic terms; for instance, the talk and writing that circulate in the classroom. In this paper I take a multimodal perspective on textuality and context. I draw on illustrative examples from school Science and English to examine how image, colour, gesture, gaze, posture and movement—as well as writing and speech—are mobilized and orchestrated by teachers and students, and how this shapes learning contexts. Throughout the paper I discuss the issues raised by a multimodal perspective for the conceptualization of text and learning context, and how this approach can contribute to learning and pedagogy more generally. I suggest that attending to the full ensemble of communicative modes involved in learning contexts enables a richer view of the complex ways in which curriculum knowledge (and policy) is mediated and articulated through classroom practices.
This paper analyses the contribution of student agency and teacher contingency in the construction of classroom discourse in adult English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) classes for refugees and asylum seekers, for whom the identity of student itself can constitute a stable point in a highly unstable and potentially threatening lifeworld. In contrast to accepted ideas of the prevalence of teacher-initiated initiation–response–feedback (IRF) sequences in whole group teacher-fronted activity, characteristic student- initiated moves for bringing the outside into classroom discourse are identified. These are discussed in terms of the student agency and teacher contingency involved, drawing on the Bakhtinian notion of “answerability.”: teacher and students are robustly claiming interactive space in classroom talk, bringing the outside into discussion. This data, drawn from narrative and classroom data in case studies of Adult ESOL classrooms, points to less docile more agentive and open-ended models of classroom discourse than have typically been evidenced in the literature.
Just over 10 years ago, Educational Review published an article “Reconceiving argument” by Richard Andrews. In the article, Andrews traced some of the changes in the conception of argument that had taken place within educational contexts (primarily within the UK) over the previous few years. An important aim of the authors’ article is to consider whether there is any evidence that the (re)conceptualization of argument discussed in Andrews’ article has permeated educational theory and practice in the last 10 years. Specifically they will consider his invocation of new metaphors to conceive of the argumentation process as more akin to a dialogic exchange in contrast to adversarial combat. They question whether such a framing diminishes the value of conflict and confrontation in the argumentation process.
This paper considers current assessment practice, looks at the impact of the Internet on today’s learners, explores ways of modernising assessment to narrow the gap between the everyday lives of students and the assessment practices that we impose on them.
What does knowing a word entail? difference in undertanding depts vs width of vocabulary knowldege, using polysemosity of words to instruct, different appraoches to vacabulary instruction: using L1, read alounds, making connection with L1,
doi;10.1111/j.1540-5826.2005.00120
Bilingual education: always concerned with power relations among languages, Critical Approach there should be a fundamental pedagogical assumption and a commitment to social justice: in order to create the best learning environments for bilingual learners, educators should acknowledge these three central principles (affirming linguistic and cultural identities, promoting additive bilingualism, and fostering integration) When teachers are empowered and see themselves as agents of change, they can graps and integrate various approaches to bilingualism to support the students
This article explores the role that Web 2.0 technologies can play in enhancing languagelearning development in a blended world. It will argue that technologies are not enough ontheir own to make a difference, but that teachers bring a particular understanding of languageand the needs of their learners to the creation of suitable activities. It will show that the use oftechnologies is also changing our understanding of the profession of language education andthat sociocultural theory can help us understand why this is occurring. Blended learning as atype of classroom activity will be explored showing how different definitions may beinterpreted in the classroom context. The types of blended activities that can be used areillustrated through three vignettes.
Pauline Gibbons (2008) Research to investigate what 'intellectual quality' is, and how this is reflected in classroom activity and practise, with reference to students learning through the medium of English as an L2. Based on SCLA, with emphasis on considering how pedagogy can be redefined in terms of sociocultural conceptual frameworks and analytical tools.