Research

Scottish Languages Review Issue 31

Issue 31 - Summer 2016

The first two articles in our summer edition deal with modern languages and inclusion, a very topical issue. Maggie Macaskill focusses on her experience of teaching Spanish to students who between them have a range of additional learning needs, and considers the implications in the context of the Scottish Government’s 1+2 language and inclusion policies. Essi d’Almeida is similarly concerned that language learning must be accessible to all students. She considers the theoretical frameworks provided by the likes of Pierre Bourdieu and Martha Nussbaum to help her make sense of the interviews she conducted with language learners in England.

The remaining three articles are all essentially about ‘projects’, distinct not just by topic however, but also by perspective. Adam MacMaster writes from a student’s point of view about the Interdisciplinary Project investigation he conducted for the Scottish Baccalaureate in Languages. He was very much concerned in what ways different learning and teaching methodologies might affect young people’s attitude to languages. We then have an account by Judith McKerrecher on her efforts as both language teacher and Curriculum Leader to increase the confidence and autonomy of a group of language students in their senior year through the use of an iTunes app. Lastly, Angela de Britos writes about SCILT’s most recent national Mother Tongue Other Tongue poetry competition on which she took the lead. It’s an inspiring story, especially for one winner, which takes us back to the inclusion theme we started with.

Also in this issue:

Happy reading!

SLR issue 31 - download entire issue

Call for papers

We are interested in submissions that consider aspects of language learning/teaching or language policy, in Scotland or in other parts of the world. If you want your paper to be considered for the next edition, please get in touch. The SLR is read by linguists as well as educational stakeholders across the country and beyond, so your article can really make an impact!

Hannah Doughty, Editor.

Modern languages and inclusion in the context of Scotland's 1+2 language policy

Maggie MacAskill
In 2012, the Scottish Government published a policy document entitled ‘Language Learning in Scotland: A 1+2 Approach’. By 2020, conditions should be in place that will allow all children in Scotland ...
Keywords: ASN, modern languages, entitlement, inclusion, Scotland, Corseford School

Cultural capital, habitus and capabilities in modern language learning

Essi d’Almeida
This article originates from the findings of an ethnographic research which explored the perceptions and experiences of pupils learning a modern language in a school in England. All pupils in Key Stag...
Keywords: language learning, inclusion, Nussbaum, Bourdieu, ethnography

My thoughts on language learning and teaching: Interdisciplinary Project Report for the Scottish Baccalaureate in Languages

Adam MacMaster
This article is an edited report on what I have learned about language teaching methods through researching the subject for the Interdisciplinary Project part of the Scottish Baccalaureate in Language...
Keywords: motivation, fluency, language learning techniques, language teaching methodology

The Use of iTunes U with Advanced Higher French Learners: Impact on the Development of Independent Learning Skills

Judith McKerrecher
Increasingly, digital learning is being used in classroom practice to enhance learning experiences. In this small scale enquiry I investigated, using quantitative and qualitative data, the impact of u...
Keywords: Skills, Independent learning, Metacognition, Training, Reflective Logs, iTunes U

Mother Tongue Other Tongue multilingual project for schools: Add your voice to the Poet-Tree

Angela de Britos
Language and culture are arguably central to identity and it is also the right of every child to maintain these elements of ‘self’. Nevertheless, the Home Office mantra of quickly learning English an...
Keywords: Bilingualism, languages, culture, multilingualism, identity

Selected abstracts and weblinks to language related publications

Abstracts from and weblinks to some of the most recent publications relating to language learning.

Downloadable articles from other academic journals

Free-to-download articles from other language journals.

Selected Events from August 2016

Summary reminder of upcoming seminars and conferences.

This work, with the exception of logos, and any other content marked with a separate copyright notice, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International Licence.

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