The ESOL research community will meet on Thurs Jan 19th 4-5.30pm in TEAMs, with the theme of Challenging assumptions through ESOL Research. If you would like to join the meeting, please complete this form - https://forms.office.com/r/B1YWD3TGKb - and I will send you a link to the meeting.
Challenging assumptions through ESOL research
We are pleased to host two talks which are challenging assumptions. Jenny will talk about her research in maths & ESOL, and Jill will present findings from her PhD in language learning and social interaction. Each talk will last 15 minutes with 10 minutes for questions, then the final 30 minutes will be for more general discussions on the issues raised by the presenters. Please find the details of each talk below.
1. Adults studying GCSE mathematics in FE: Self-efficacy, anxiety and examination grades by Jenny Stacy: 15 min presentation + Q&A
This presentation will include a summary of Jenny’s research findings, with reference to the age, gender, and ethnicity of participants. She will challenge the deficit model of ESOL learners in GCSE mathematics classes, regardless of gender or age, using the insights gained during the research phase. Jenny will also include some of the recommendations that she will make at CPD sessions, on approaches which may be beneficial for adult learners generally
2. Catch-22? Untangling the relationship between ESOL learners’ language learning and their social interactions with expert English speakers by Jill Court: 15 min presentation + Q&A
It is commonly assumed that improving English proficiency increases ESOL learners’ opportunities for social interactions with the British born population. At the same time, teachers and learners generally view opportunities for ‘naturalistic’ language practice as crucial to facilitate language learning. Drawing on ESOL learners’ accounts, I argue that imbalances in power can constrain learners’ interactions with expert speakers of English, restricting their opportunities to practise the language. Improving English competency can facilitate ESOL learners to consolidate more powerful identity positions, increasing confidence and creating more opportunities to practise and improve language skills. However, English proficiency does not automatically enable participation in English-speaking social networks. In some cases, when ESOL learners do have opportunities to speak with expert English speakers they may, in fact, be silenced.
3. Break out room: compare and contrast the two pieces of research and what this can mean for future research and our practice
Information about the network can be found on our padlet - https://padlet.com/kathrynsidaway/ft9b25fqqf15m1xt
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