Thanks Melanie
I am struck that the “new approach” policy report makes not one single reference to the practices and people involved in ESOL teaching.
It treats ESOL as a process industry with a delivery structure that you tweak to optimize it, like insurance claims processing for example. There seems to be no acknowledgement that giving people language skills is a matter of contact, time, inspiration and
good materials used well in good environments. Such a restricted approach may well be “new” but can it be effective ?
Also, something troubles me in the overarching assumption that “need” for language learning is a variable function of a deprivation index.
Yes it is right to argue that the most excluded should be offered most attention. But No, it surely is wrong to sign up to any political economy with sliding scales of access to a fundamental entitlement like social participation through communication. Those
access criteria are going to be set by political processes which may be (already are ?) venal, arbitrary, penny-pinching or hostage to interest-groups. I haven’t completely worked out what the problem is in this approach, but instinctively I’d say, “slippery”.
I can’t think of any other kinds of basic education that are meted out on a socially-indexed “need” scale. Would DIUS publish proposals restricting English lessons at KS 2 to only some of our children – and expect praise for setting enlightened access criteria
around exclusion ?
So what is it about ESOL speakers that makes them suitable for this rationing of opportunity ? Please reassure me that it’s nothing to
do with their foreign origins.
Stephen Haggard
Consultant, New Media
Mentorn Media / Tinopolis Group
020 7258 6718- direct
020 7258 6700 - switchboard
020 7258 6888 - fax
07956 370294 - mobile
From: ESOL-Research discussion forum and
message board [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Cooke, Melanie
Sent: 07 May 2009 22:26
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: DIUS - ESOL policy document: the long awaited report of the ESOL and community cohesion report
The report of the DIUS consultation on ESOL and community cohesion that many of us contributed to has finally come out. I haven't
had time to read it yet - interested to know what people make of it...
The consultation report can be found here:
And this seems to be a short version
Best wishes
Melanie
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