Committee for Linguistics in Education

Minutes of meeting 83, 2.00-5.20 Wednesday 24th May Room 642, Institute of Education, London

1 Membership and apologies

1.1 Present: Dick Hudson (RH) (LAGB) (chair), Theresa Lillis (TML) (BAAL) (minutes), Patricia Ashby (LLAS Subject Centre) , Sue Barry (LAGB), Sarah Cartwright (CILT), Keith Davidson (NATE), Charlotte Franson (NALDIC), Terry Lamb (TeL) (ALL), Joan Swann (BAAL), Graeme Trousdale (LAGB) Tim Shortis (AQA) 1.2 Apologies for absence: Jill Bourne (BAAL), Jeff Branch (EA), Billy Clark (LAGB), Geoff Dean (NAAE), Jennifer Owen Adams (BDA), Marina Spiegel (NATECLA), Brian Street (UKLA) Mahendra Verma (co-opted), Catherine Walter (BAAL).

Noted: 1.3 CILT membership: Anne Davidson-Lundt / David Newton may sometimes be replaced by a representative from CILT's education department, EDAT 1.4 Up to date list of membership on website: http://www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/dick/ec/cliemembers.htm 1.5 There will be a change of officers after this meeting. Catherine Walter (BAAL) will be chair; Graeme Trousdale (LAGB) will act as secretary. 1.6 Terry Lamb will seek advice from ALL as to his continued role as representative at CLIE given his changed position within ALL.

2 Minutes of last meeting Corrections: TeL to be used to refer to Terry Lamb; ThL to be used for Theresa Lillis. Tim Shortis listed twice.

3 Matters arising

3.1 Item 3.1 Catherine had agreed to invite English subject centre rep to come to CLIE. She has written and had no reply but will chase.

3.2 Item 4.2: How should we deal with Secondary FL as a future agenda item? RH and CW propose that should be main agenda topic for May 2007. Agreed.

3.3 Item 9: TeL had pointed out that EAL not mentioned in TDA draft available at time. Current draft now up— http://www.tda.gov.uk/teachers/currentconsultations/professionalstandards.as

1 px?keywords=standards RH found one significant reference to EAL in current version which appears to reflect positive response from TDA to calls from ALL, NALDIC and other organisations for inclusion of EAL. TeL clarifies that this is still a consultation period and suggests it would be worth CLIE endorsing latest revisions. Proposal that RH write on behalf of CLIE.

Action RH to draft letter supporting inclusions of EAL and send to CLIE members for comments.

4 PGCE English 4.1 RH has had 3 replies. They come from the PGCE admissions tutors for English at Exeter, Southampton and Nottingham Trent, and all agree in taking a very positive attitude to applicants with a degree in linguistics or English language. One wrote ‘although the vast majority of language trained students can cope with the level of literature that is demanded of them in schools, it is in fact the literature-trained students who do not cope with the language demands that the curriculum now places upon them.’

4.1.1 Discussion points included: TS would be interested to find out the reading expectations that teacher training institutions have of linguistics students in general and re A level teaching in particular; SC main focus for English teachers is 11-16 teaching; SC there is a need to inform applicants about the different practices in different institutions so they know which institutions are likely to welcome applicants from linguistics/language backgrounds; SC practices vary enormously across institutions and admissions tutors; SC where there is a shortage of applicants for English, this affects admission practices (more likely to accept linguistics/language applicants); TeL proposed that presentation based on responses to RH letter and issue generally could be presented to PGCE English tutors; TeL suggests similar discussion needs to be had about applications to teaching of modern languages and criteria on which acceptance made; SC points to a number of TDA funded initiatives to draw in wider range of applicants in MFL.

Action RH will summarise responses and send to those PGCE providers on original list. Action: RH to contact TDA with findings from responses. TL to supply name to RH.

4.1.2 Our request for clarification from Susan Bowles (TDA) RH wrote and no reply as yet.

4.2 Draft web page on school teaching as a career

2 Discussion included the following questions: What kind of advice is it appropriate to give to potential applicants?; What information to include about institutions who don’t seem to welcome linguistics graduates? What should be included about FE? What should be included for those with TEFL backgrounds or interests? How to direct applicants to CLIE site – suggestion made that should be via Subject Centres as well as by mailing lists such as that for LAGB. Specific suggestions for revisions to web page included: use English language and linguistics, delete ‘so called’, reword ‘generally’, delete ref to teenage books; include some quotes from PGCE tutors; important not to offer specific or categorical advice; mention post compulsory qualification; agreed that no specific mention should be made of TEFL; to include on CLIE webpage names of institutions where linguistics students are welcomed. Action: RH will email CLIE members to look again at website and give deadline when comments needed by.

5. ITE websites: FL Discussion centred on: How CLIE can help to boost language content? SC Website functions as resource bank for trainers and will increasingly be used by students. Specific suggestions: material relating to EAL; contrastive description of key community languages in the UK. RH Suggested including material on structure, pronunciation, variation of all principal target languages- French, German, Spanish. CF There is a range of varieties of community languages in UK so problematic to focus only on standard variety. NALDIC website has material on EAL some of which may be useful. SB It is difficult to find materials including web based materials that are directly useful. TeL-requested feedback from CLIE on linguistic content in framework. TeL pointed out that KAL not currently on PGCE audit but should be and should be referred to as KAL so connections can be made across modern languages and English. Action: RH to email CLIE to request suggestions for materials that members consider may be useful to include on FL website.

6.ITE websites: English Noted that there had been no reply to message sent to David Stevens (NATE). Action: KD to check whether there is another appropriate contact person and to inform RH. Noted that there is currently nothing on KAL (except a page about A-level English language). KD suggested that once KAL has been integrated into ML website, English ITE could be told about this.

3 TeL and GT felt that material being proposed for CLIE website would be useful for English website.

7. The Framework for Teaching Foreign Languages at KS2: to discuss this with particular reference to its linguistic aspects. http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/primary/publications/languages/framework/

Discussion points included: How to support teachers? TeL sought response from CLIE on the framework as TeL felt that list of KAL quite random. Recognition by CLIE that framework is complex document. GT considered it to be quite good with lots of useful ideas for teachers. CF asked how would framework be interpreted and what implicit model of language learning does it reflect? TeL pointed out that a main aim was to draw on good pedagogy in primary. SC aim is to teach in the target language. TL proposed that a primary specialist be invited to CLIE to discuss their practices/issues. Proposed date May 2007 and to combine this with a discussion of KS3 MFL framework.

8. Reports from member organisations Reports received from NATE and BAAL 7.1 NATE related: RH pointed out that functional English is on QCA agenda. It was noted that the official consultation period on what constitutes functional English was now closed. English subject centre is considering holding a joint meeting with HE and schools to discuss RLF publication, Writing Matters. Noted re reports from member organisations: reports of past events to Catherine Walter for inclusion in the minutes; reports of future events to Dick Hudson (for inclusion in the CLIE events list at www.phon.ucl.ac.uk/home/dick/ec/events.htm )

9.Future CLIE meetings Brian Street had contacted Jan Blommaert about talking at CLIE meeting. Some confusion around whether this would be at the November 2006 or February 2006 meeting. RH to discuss time and topic with Jan and Brian Street.

10.AOB Nothing to report.

4 11.The erosion of EAL provision, a discussion led by Charlotte Franson

CF gave an overview of the current state of EAL provision in the UK and made comparisons with several other EU countries. See doc EAL provision: information and issues.

Discussion points included: the ongoing demand for EAL-specific language support; the lack of recognition in current political climate for the need for EAL-specific expertise and thus for provision for professional qualifications; the current discourse on a broad notion of inclusion which backgrounds specific needs and targeted responses

How can CLIE help?  Carry out EAL related research and in this way put EAL on the agenda.  Include EAL issues on website. RH suggested CF could expand the section about EAL teaching on CLIE web page about careers in teaching.  Find ways to raise awareness about issues including the need for professional development.

5 BAAL report to CLIE, May 2006

Chris Brumfit BAAL members learnt with great sadness of the death of Professor Christopher Brumfit in March this year. Chris was Professor of Education (Linguistics) at Southampton, and had been a major figure in the field of language education over many years. He was a former chair of BAAL (1982-5), and an important contributor to CILT.

BAAL Recommendations on Good Practice CLIE members who have used the BAAL Recommendations on Good Practice in Applied Linguistics as a guide to teaching or research may be interested to know that these are being updated and revised this year. It is hoped a final version will be available for approval in September 2006.

BAAL meetings The next BAAL annual meeting will be held on 7-9 September at University College, Cork. This is a joint meeting with the Irish Association for Applied Linguistics (IRAAL). The conference theme is From Applied Linguistics to Linguistics Applied. Dates of future annual meetings are: 6-8 September 2007, Edinburgh and 11-13 September, 2008, Glasgow.

BAAL Special Interest Groups CLIE members may be interested in the growing number of BAAL SIGs (now seven), which allow BAAL to appeal to an increasing range of specialists. Current SIGs are: UK Linguistic Ethnography Forum Corpus Linguistics SIG Psycholinguistics SIG Multimodality SIG Language Learning and Teaching SIG Language in Africa SIG Gender and Language SIG

BAAL/CUP seminars BAAL has recently put out a call for proposals for seminars, supported by the organisation with Cambridge University Press. Funding will be available for three seminars, to be held in 2007. Seminars allow for an in-depth focus on emergent/relevant topics, methodological issues etc. BAAL is particularly keen to encourage interdisciplinary seminars. Proposals are needed by 13 October 2006. For more information on these items, see the BAAL web site at: http://www.baal.org.uk/index.html

Joan Swann 22. 5. 06.

6 CLIE May 2006 NATE Notes

Transition to HE

 Nuffield Review of 14-19 Education: research conducted with HE reported at: www.nuffield14-19review.org.uk/  Royal Literary Fund’s report Writing Matters - critical of secondary school teaching - available at: www.rlf.org.uk/fellowshipscheme/research.cfm

Functional English

Draft standards in reading, writing and speaking/listening published by QCA for ‘functional skills’ (?) to achieve Grade C (‘Level 2’) in GCSE English:  consultation February-March 2006:  small-scale trial of the standards (in reading, writingand assessment in September 2006  pilot testing from September 2007  qualification ready for full use in September 2009 Further details at: www.qca.org.uk/15891.html

NATE worries:  bogus tests for pseudo problems?  not clear what form the tests will take, ‘stand-alone’/‘ when-ready’ or within the GCSE (stand-alone functional skills tests in English, Maths and ICT estimated at an additional 2 million tests a year)  in the absence of clear research, rather than anecdotal, evidence as to what the supposed problems might be, hardly clear how they should be addressed  anything more than Lynne Truss stuff?  what aspects of ‘English’ are not actually ‘functional’ in any case?

Literacy resources

National Literacy Association, The Guide to Literacy Resources 2006 for KS1-3 available at: www.nla.org.uk/resource_other.php.

A Level Review

Draft criteria for new A Level qualifications (six modules reduced to four modules) available at www.qca.org.uk/12086_16132.html Consultation ended on 28 April.

Language notes

 English Next, David Graddol’s British Council Report on the global status of English, available at: www.britishcouncil.org/home.  David Crystal’s reply to Lynne Truss et al, The Fight for English: How Language Pundits Ate, Shot and Left, to be published in the autumn.

7 LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTICS RESEARCH CLUSTER INTERFACE WITH LINGUISTICS The Portland Hall 4-12 Little Titchfield Street, W1W 7UW FRIDAY 23RD JUNE, 2006 0945 – 1715 A one-day conference show-casing ways in which linguistics interacts in our day-to-day life.

Keynote speakers David Crystal Pronouncing Shakespeare Malcolm Coulthard The linguist as detective – forensic applications of language description

Other speakers include Andrew Caink, Charles Denroche, Suzanne LaBelle, Peter Owens, Paul Robertson and Lena Olausson presenting topics covering the use of metaphor, phonetics and singing, the linguistic situation in the Gulf and linguistic research in the BBC Pronunciation Research Unit.

Registration will open at 0900 for a 0945 start.

Coffee and tea will be provided but delegates are asked to find their own lunch.

8 ONLINE PRE-REGISTRATION IS IMPERATIVE FOR THIS FREE EVENT. Go to http://www.wmin.ac.uk/sshl/page-2089 Closing date for pre-registration is Monday 19th June, 2006. PLACES WILL BE ALLOCATED ON A “FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED” BASIS.