RUMACCC Projects 2007
Back to RUMACCC Activities 2007
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- Address in some Western European Languages
- Raising Children in more than one language / Raising Deaf Children in more than one language
- Victorian government LOTE report
- Victorian government ESL report
- Promoting the benefits of language learning
- Teaching and learning Languages Other Than English (LOTE) in Victorian schools
- Federal Government reports
- RUMACCC Workshop
- Thesis completion
- Joint seminar; RUMACCC and CERC
Address in some Western European Languages
Researchers: Leo Kretzenbacher, Catrin Norrby, Jane Warren, and Michael Clyne.
Expected duration: 2004-2006
Funding: ARC Discovery grant
This project concerns changes in the address systems (pronouns, first names/titles/surnames, letter heads) in three languages, French, German and Swedish and to what extent the existing address paradigms reflect sociopolitical change. Within the domain of address, the project focuses on such issues as regional, national, social, generational and gender variation, language contact, and political factors. A range of data collection techniques have been used in the project, including: participant observation, focus groups, social network interviews, an internet survey of companies on address in the workplace and language specific chat groups on address forms. The book manuscript was submitted to CUP on the 19th December 2007 for publication. Work also continued on the 2nd phase of research, this time focussing on address in intercultural communication in Europe. Questionnaire data at a number of conferences were collected and collated for analysis. Results will be presented in 2008.
A special workshop on address was held at the International Sociolinguistics conference in Limerick, Ireland in July 2006, convened by Jane Warren. Several RUMACCC staff members were able to present at the conference, namely: Prof. Michael Clyne, Dr. Jane Warren, Dr. Leo Kretzenbacher and Dr. Jo-anne Hughson. Regrettably, Dr. Catrin Norrby was unable to attend the conference although she was instrumental in organizing the Address workshop. Prof. Clyne presented her paper for her. One of RUMACCC’s overseas research assistants, Heidi Nyblom, also presented a paper at the workshop.
Work also began on the 2nd phase of research, this time focussing on address in intercultural communication in Europe. A first paper was presented at the Australian Linguistic Society conference in July 2006. A further paper presentation is expected in 2007 and research in this area will continue to expand in the same year.
Raising Children in more than one language / Raising Deaf Children in more than one language
Presenters: Michael Clyne, Robert Debski and Susanne Döpke / Meredith Bartlett, Sandra Leanne
Completion date: ongoing
Funding: Victorian Multicultural Commission
In August a very successful Raising Children in more than one language seminar was held at the University of Melbourne in the Sidney Myer Asia Centre. Over two hundred people attended the seminar aimed at parents, medical personnel, teachers and social workers. Funding and support has been provided by Community Languages Australia, the Victorian Multicultural Commission and Deaf Access Victoria. Speakers at the Raising Children in more than one language seminars were Dr Susanne Döpke, Assoc. Prof. Robert Debski and Prof. Michael Clyne.
No Raising Deaf Children in more than one language seminars were held in 2007.
Victorian Government LOTE reports
Researcher: Yvette Slaughter, Raphie Kruse, Kate Fernandez and Sue Fernandez.
Completion date: 2007
Funding: Department of Education and Early Childhood Development tender
In 2007, the Victorian Department of Education contracted RUMACCC to produce the report Languages Other Than English in government schools, 2006. The report comprehensively examines the study of languages other than English in Victorian government primary and secondary schools, as well as the study of languages through the Victorian School of Languages and through Distance Education in Victoria. This report represents an important source of information for academics and researchers in the study of languages in Australia. The report can be downloaded from, http://www.education.vic.gov.au/studentlearning/teachingresources/lote/research.htm. Reports from previous years, including a number of reports produced through RUMACCC, can also be downloaded from the same website.
Victorian Government ESL report
Researcher: Yvette Slaughter (in collaboration with Tony Johansson, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development)
Completion date: 2007
Funding: Department of Education and Training tender
In 2007, the Victorian DEECD contracted RUMACCC to produce the report English as a second language in Victorian government schools, 2006. The report comprehensively examines the provision of English as a second language classes for recently arrived immigrants within government primary and secondary schools in Victoria. The report details the countries of origin and languages spoken by students and the parents, the various services that these families can access, including translation, in-person, video or phone interpreting, as well as details of sources of funding and its expenditure. The report provides an informative overview of ESL teaching in government schools and highlights the diversity of students within Victorian schools. The report can be downloaded from: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/studentlearning/programs/esl/resources/onlineeslreports.htm.
Reports from previous years, including a number of reports produced through RUMACCC, can also be downloaded from the same website.
Other Victorian Government reports
Promoting the benefit of language learning
Researcher: Sue Fernandez
Completion date: 2007
Funding: Department of Education and Training tender
In 2006 RUMACCC was contracted by the Victorian Department of Education and Training to compile materials for use in the promotion of languages learning, which is a key component of the 'National Statement and Plan for Languages Education in Australian Schools 2005-2008'. The aim of this report was to provide a succinct and accessible overview of key research on the benefits of learning a LOTE for teachers, school leaders and parents. The research was presented in five sections: the benefits of language learning for literacy development; cognitive benefits of language learning; culture, language and intercultural language learning; intercultural competency; age and second language learning. The report has been made available from 2007 on the MLTAV's website under 'Advocacy for languages' http://www.mltav.asn.au/content/view/79/84/.
Teaching and learning Languages Other Than English (LOTE) in Victorian schools
Researcher: Sue Fernandez
Completion date: 2008
Funding: Department of Education and Training tender
In 2007 RUMACCC was also contracted to complete a feature article on LOTE in Victorian schools. The feature article seeks to inform teachers and school leader about current research-based knowledge in LOTE teaching and learning. It presents research on the benefits of language learning - cognitive, academic, general educational and intercultural - and also examines effective LOTE teaching practices for primary and secondary students. Particular emphasis is given to the dimension of intercultural knowledge in the context of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards.
Federal Government reports
Researcher: Yvette Slaughter, John Hajek and Jo-anne Hughson
Completion date: 2007
Funding: Department of Education and Training tender
Reports for the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA)
In 2007, RUMACCC undertook an exciting project for MCEETYA, involving the collation of languages participation data for all schools in Australia, including all government, Catholic and independent schools. The confidential reports titled, The Study of Languages Other Than English in Australia, 2005 and The Study of Languages Other Than English in Australia, 2006, represent the most comprehensive collection of such data for a number of years. This extremely challenging undertaking required extensive networking with federal and state bodies representing government, Catholic and independent schools in each state and territory. While the reports are confidential, RUMACCC hopes to gain permission to utilise some of the data collected for research purposes in the near future. The report also suggested a number of important research questions leading on from insights discovered during the collection of data and the writing of the reports, which RUMACCC hopes will be answered in future research projects in collaboration with MCEETYA.
RUMACCC Workshop
In September RUMACCC organised a special half-day workshop entitled Aspects of multilingualism and multiculturalism across 2 continents: Australia and Europe. Three speakers from within the School of Languages and Linguistics, Dr. Sandra Kipp, Dr. Brigitte Lambert and Birgit Lang gave presentations, as well as one of RUMACCC’s visiting scholars, Prof. Jacomine Nortier of Tilburg University in the Netherlands. A broad range of topics centred around a common tie of German language and culture were discussed at the workshop, ranging from community gardens in Germany to German-speaking refugee cabaret in Australia to German migration and language use in Melbourne. The workshop was very well received and inspired much discussion.
Thesis completion
Yvette Slaughter completed her PhD in 2007. Her thesis, titled The Study of Asian Languages in Two Australian States: Considerations for Language-in-Education Policy and Planning, was supervised by Michael Clyne and Sandra Kipp. Students continuing PhDs are Meredith Bartlett, Ingrid Seebus and Sue Fernandez (co-supervision with Faculty of Education).
Other reports
Susanne Döpke completed two reports for the Free Kindergarten Association Victoria (Multicultural Resource Centre): (1) Understanding bilingualism and language disorder; and (2) Is bilingualism detrimental for children with autism? Paper commissioned by the Free Kindergarten Association Victoria (Multicultural Resource Centre).
Joint seminar; RUMACCC and CERC
In September RUMACCC and the Contemporary European Research Centre (CERC) joined forces in sponsorship of a one-day workshop entitled European Multilingualism and Multiculturalism Today. Five speakers from different areas within the School of Languages and Linguistics gave presentations, as well as two of RUMACCC’s visiting scholars, Prof. Guus Extra of Tilburg University in the Netherlands and Dr. Claudia Riehl from the University of Cologne. A broad range of topics were discussed at the workshop ranging from language testing to ‘Ethnic Drag’. The workshop was very well attended, attracting even government representatives (from the Department of Immigration), and extremely well received. Publication of selected papers is envisaged and there are plans to continue with more collaborative work between RUMACCC and CERC next year.