Linguistics and Leick
I was pleased to learn today that English Language (the linguistics-based subject I teach) apparently has "protected status" on the new Australian National Curriculum! That means that it's protected from being axed or changed and is recognised as a subject with an outstanding curriculum that they want to keep. I am very pleased about this, obvs.
I was less pleased to learn just how much the Study Design is changing next year though. The whole Year 12 course and much of the Year 11 course will need to be rejigged. New assessment tasks, new schedules, new work sheets, new lesson plans. *sigh* So much more work. Do. Not. Want. >.<
At least the content changes are good. I was excited to hear that they (VCAA) want us to teach more theories and big picture stuff, like linguistic relativism and linguistic determinism, and cultural context, and the link between language and identity, and endangered languages. I already do most of these things unofficially anyway, so it's nice to see it affirmed in the official documents.
One of the main reasons I like teaching English Language is because I get a chance to change kids' attitudes to language. I guess you could call me a language activist. I want students to see that language is identity, and that we perform our identity through language. That we express our culture through language. That language influences our thoughts. I want them to feel sad when a language dies. I want them to feel outraged when Indian kids get assaulted on public transport for speaking their mother tongue too loudly. I think the new Study Design not only gives teachers scope to explore all of that, but also encourages us to do so. The linguist in me rejoices; the overworked teacher in me groans and protests weakly at the hours and hours of work that will go into implementing the new Study Design.
In other exciting though completely unrelated news... The Hub Productions is doing a Xena event in Melbourne on the 12th of November! Confirmed guests so far include: Hudson Leick (and more to be announced). I'm going. I'm so going. Who wants to come?
I was less pleased to learn just how much the Study Design is changing next year though. The whole Year 12 course and much of the Year 11 course will need to be rejigged. New assessment tasks, new schedules, new work sheets, new lesson plans. *sigh* So much more work. Do. Not. Want. >.<
At least the content changes are good. I was excited to hear that they (VCAA) want us to teach more theories and big picture stuff, like linguistic relativism and linguistic determinism, and cultural context, and the link between language and identity, and endangered languages. I already do most of these things unofficially anyway, so it's nice to see it affirmed in the official documents.
One of the main reasons I like teaching English Language is because I get a chance to change kids' attitudes to language. I guess you could call me a language activist. I want students to see that language is identity, and that we perform our identity through language. That we express our culture through language. That language influences our thoughts. I want them to feel sad when a language dies. I want them to feel outraged when Indian kids get assaulted on public transport for speaking their mother tongue too loudly. I think the new Study Design not only gives teachers scope to explore all of that, but also encourages us to do so. The linguist in me rejoices; the overworked teacher in me groans and protests weakly at the hours and hours of work that will go into implementing the new Study Design.
In other exciting though completely unrelated news... The Hub Productions is doing a Xena event in Melbourne on the 12th of November! Confirmed guests so far include: Hudson Leick (and more to be announced). I'm going. I'm so going. Who wants to come?