Research

Scottish Languages Review Issues 33

Issue 33 - Winter 2017

Our winter edition contains contributions from international, national and ‘local’ authors. We start with the article by Professor Jim Cummins, a native Irishman now living and working in Canada. He writes about a very topical project: how to teach children with different home languages. The teachers involved in the project were so proud of their achievements (and those of their learners) they even waived their right to anonymity! At national level, we have a contribution from Julia Hofweber and Professor Suzanne Graham, both based at the University of Reading. They introduce another one of the research strands in the AHRC-funded Open World Research Initiative – this time it’s about investigating the impact of creative text materials and teaching approaches in the language classroom (Check out Angela Gayton’s article in Issue 32 for the introduction to the MEITS strand – Multilingualism Empowering Individual Transforming Societies). We then have two contributions from Scotland-based authors, both with highly relevant content: Elizabeth Clingan and Sandra Coles report on their professional enquiry into the teaching of multi-composite classes in primary schools, whilst Elizabeth Murray presents us with the findings from the research she conducted as part of her MA at Heriot-Watt University, an investigation into the views of Scottish primary teachers on the perceived challenges and benefits of the 1+2 language policy. We finish with a contribution that is both national and international: Edward Bugler, now studying at the University of Portsmouth, tells us about his transformational experience as an English Language Assistant in Quebec. So here we are, back in Canada!

Also in this issue:

SLR issue 33 - download entire issue

Call for papers for our Summer Edition

We are interested in submissions that consider any aspects of language learning/teaching or language policy, in Scotland or in other parts of the world. The SLR is read by linguists as well as educational stakeholders across the country and beyond, so your article can really have impact!

Hannah Doughty, Editor

Multilingualism in Classroom Instruction: “I think it’s helping my brain grow”

Jim Cummins
School systems in many countries typically view the home languages of multilingual students either as largely irrelevant or as an impediment to students’ educational progress. It is frequently ...
Keywords: Bilingualism; Identity; Instruction; Metalinguistic development; Multilingualism; The whole child

Linguistic creativity in language learning: Investigating the impact of creative text materials and teaching approaches in the second language classroom

Julia Hofweber and Suzanne Graham
This paper presents the rationale for Linguistic Creativity in Language Learning, a classroom-based research project. The project investigates the impact of using literary texts on learners’ sec...
Keywords: creativity, motivation, literature, authenticity, teaching approaches

Modern Languages in the multicomposite primary classroom: Meeting the challenge

Elizabeth Clingan and Sandra Coles
This small-scale practitioner enquiry explores why some primary multicomposite class teachers from two local authorities perceive that teaching a modern language in multicomposite class is more challe...
Keywords: Modern Languages in the primary school; multicomposite classes; literacy

Modern Languages in Scottish Primary Schools: An Investigation into the Perceived Benefits and Challenges of the 1+2 Policy

Elizabeth Murray
This article reports on the views regarding the key benefits and challenges of the Scottish Government’s 1+2 language policy as expressed by primary school teachers across Scotland via an online...
Keywords: 1+2 language policy, Scotland, critical period hypothesis, transition, language proficiency

An Incredible Journey: Becoming a Language Assistant in Quebec

Edward Bugler
The purpose of this article is to highlight the many possibilities and opportunities that open up through language learning, using my experience as reference. Firstly, I expand on my various motivati...
Keywords: Quebec; British Council; Language Assistants; motivation; benefits of language learning

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 January 2018

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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