EED112 Language as Social Practice

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EED112 Language as Social Practice

• Assignment 2 Essay
• Bethany Kurtz
• 11274358
• Word Count 1487

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The QUESTION

• We Learn to do literacy as we learn how to
  behave and belong in our families and
  communities
• Discuss this statement in relation to the concept
  of Discourse communities and the socio cultural
  approaches to language and learning introduced in
  this subject. How can these theoretical
  understandings be applied to language development
  and learning in the context of schooling?

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Introduction

• Language is influenced by a persons culture
• Teachers should address the diverse backgrounds
  of students
• Socio cultural approaches should be applied to
  assist students in becoming insiders
• Discourse communities
• Relationship between Secondary and Primary
  Discourses
• Theories of Gee, Halliday and Vygotsky

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Discourse Communities

• A social network (Gee 1996 cited in Knobel 1999
  p.34)
• Primary Discourses
• Secondary Discourses
• The relationship between Discourses
• Becoming an insider

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Learning how to do Literacy

• Discourses determine how people view language,
  and more importantly, how they practise it.
• (Cambell Green 2000,p.3)

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Protolanguage

• A term coined by Michael Halliday (Love et al.
  2002)
• An example of a cultural background.
• (Chomsky 1972, cited in Cazden 1992) The
  influence of reading books to young children.

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Language Approaches

• Vygotsky
• Zone of Proximal Development.
• Scaffolding
• An expert helping someone who is less of an
  expert.

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Language Approaches

• IRE Inititiation, Response, Feedback.
• Learning to interact within secondary Discourse
  communities.
• Teaching Learning Cycle.
• Engaging
• Building Knowledge
• Transformation Stage
• Presentation
• Reflection

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Teachers need to value a students family culture

• Issues that concern Aboriginal Children (Eades
  1993).
• Achievement is derived from Knowledge about
  insider experiences
• Preparation for the real world and jobs
• Theoretical understandings support children in
  developing language

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Conclusion

• All Discourses draw upon oral and written
  language, although secondary goes beyond primary.
• Socio-cultural approaches help students develop
  literacy.
• Teachers should value students cultural
  background.
• Becoming an insider broadens opportunities in
  life.

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References

• Campbell, R, Green, D (eds) 2000, Literacies and
  Learners Current Perspectives, Pearson
  Education Australia Pty Limited, Australia.
• Cazden, C 1992, Whole Language Plus Essays on
  Literacy in the United States and New Zealand,
  Teachers College Press, Columbia University
  N.Y.
• Eades, 1993, Aboriginal English, PEN.
• Knobel, M, 1999, Everyday Literacies, Students
  Discourse and Social Practice, Peter Lang
  Publishing, Inc, New York.