Hibbert explores South Africa’s higher education crisis utilising case studies and first-hand experiences with English as the language of instruction. The historical overview provides a framework with which to understand the complicated nature of using English as a language of instruction in South Africa, past and present. Student narratives are presented to illustrate mainly breakthroughs, but also challenges.
An overview is provided, of imported English teaching methodologies and how they have emerged and developed in the local educational system over decades. It is demonstrated how these methodologies relate to socio-economic and political events and trends at each juncture. By applying defamiliarisation as a research method of investigation, students’ translanguaging struggles are recorded and discussed, both pre-pandemic and in the pandemic period. The experiences of non-monolingual English-speaking staff and students, and of local English/African language bilinguals is foregrounded, as they are by far the majority in South African higher education and schools. The relevance of the experiences and learning paths of those staff and students is enhanced.
This book aids lecturers across disciplines and English language facilitators in the improvement of English acquisition curricula through exposure to arguments, case studies and learning path narratives in this volume, and prompts and inspires researchers to develop further theories and experiments in their own context.
Author(s): Liesel Hibbert
Series: Routledge Advances in Teaching English as an International Language
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 185
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Series Information
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Contributors
Foreword
Acknowledgements
1 Introduction
Volume Overview – Themes, Concepts and Research Methods
The Education Crisis in South Africa – Background and Current Challenges
Chapter Outlines
Conclusion
References
2 A Narrative Account of the History of English in South Africa
Introductory Note
My Story
Language Issues Within the Present Schooling System
The Higher Education Landscape
Postscript
References
3 Assessing Student Writing: ‘A Tangled Situation’
Introduction and Background
A Historical Overview of Theories Which Impacted On Our Practices
The Post-1915 Era
Discussion of Our Train of Thought While Assessing a Writing Sample From 1995
Implications
Recommendations
The Structural Responsibility of the Institution
The Language and Literacy Mediator’s Responsibility
The Disciplinary-Specific Lecturer’s Responsibility
The Student’s Responsibility
Conclusion
References
4 The Complexity of Curriculum Design for English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI)
Introduction
Theoretical Orientations
Curriculum Design
Implementation
Step 1 Choice of Research Topic
Step 2 Choice of Group
Step 3 Formulation of a Question Or Proposition
Step 4 Presentation of the Proposal
Step 5 Design of Questionnaire and Conducting of Interviews
Step 6 Synthesis of Findings
Step 7 Collaborative Report Writing
Step 8 Presentation of Reports
Step 9 Revision of Reports
Step 10 Writing Reflective Commentary
Step 11 Analysis of Reflective Feedback From Students
Step 12 Overall Feedback On Their Performance and Reflective Commentary
The Benefits of Enquiry-Based Learning and Inclusivity
Discussion
Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
5 Students’ Self-Narratives of Linguistic Migration: Opportunities for Relinking
Introduction
Background
Theoretical Framework
Methodology
A Three-Part Analysis
Cluster A – Linguistic Identity Migration, Power and Credibility
Cluster B – Linguistic Identity and Inclusivity
Cluster C – Agency in the Making
Extracts From the Seventh Sample Essay Titled Am I Becoming Someone Else?
Extract From the Eighth Essay Am I Still a Xhosa?
Reflections
References
6 The Benefits of Collaborative Bilingual Reading
Introduction and Context
Theoretical Framework and Literature Review
Methodology
Case Study Format and Rationale
Participants
The Tutorials
Data Collection and Analysis
Tourism Communication Tutorial Assignments
Questionnaire Regarding the Benefits of Bilingual Reading in the Tourism Tutorial
Interviews Regarding the Students’ Backgrounds and the Benefits of Bilingual Reading in the Tourism Tutorial
Results
Tourism Communication Tutorial Assignments
Questionnaire Regarding the Benefits of Bilingual Reading in the Tourism Tutorial
Detailed Responses (Question 6)
Interviews Regarding the Students’ Backgrounds and the Benefits of Bilingual Reading in the Tourism Tutorial
Discussion
Tourism Communication Tutorial Assignments
Questionnaire Regarding the Benefits of Bilingual Reading in the Tourism Tutorial
Interviews Regarding the Students’ Backgrounds and the Benefits of Bilingual Reading in the Tourism Tutorial
Concluding Remarks
References
7 The Film Black Panther as Catalyst for Changing Perceptions of Africa And/or ‘Being African’ Among Students in South Africa and the UK
Introduction and Background
The Context
Theoretical Orientation
Defamiliarisation
Visual Impact for Emotional Appeal and for Raising Social Responsibility Issues
Methodology and Data Collection Procedure
The Data Collection Procedure With the South African 3rd-Year Pre-Service English Teachers
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
The Data Collection Procedure With UK Students
Analysis and Findings
Analysis of Responses From the South African Students
Summaries and Analysis of Replies to Question 1: To What Degree Has the Film Impacted On Your Conceptions and Views of Africa, and Feelings About Africa?
Summary and Analysis of Findings Regarding Question 2: Can the Film Be Used in Grade 7–12 English Classes to Raise Awareness of Social Justice, and Would the Student Be Inclined to Do This, Prompted By this Intervention?
Summary of Responses to Question 3: To What Extent Do You Find Black Panther a Good Catalyst for the Teaching of English in a Justice Awareness-Based Curriculum?
Responses to Question 4: Personally, What Would You Do in Your Classroom?
Analysis of Responses From the UK Students
Black Panther as an Echo of African History
Representation of the African Continent in Black Panther
Expression of Emotions in Black Panther
Africa as an Example of Race Equality in the Film
Some Final Considerations and Conclusions
Conclusion
References
8 Developing a Transformative Critical Language Awareness-Focused Curriculum
Introduction
Socio-historical Context
Theoretical Underpinnings
Research Methodology
Student Feedback Regarding the Benefits of Discursive Spaces for Cross-Cultural and Cross-Lingual Interaction
Student Feedback Regarding the Usefulness of the Critical Discourse Analysis Toolbox
Conclusion
Recommendations
References
9 Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Radical Defamiliarisation in Art Teaching
Introduction
Philosophical Underpinnings
Duo-ethnography as Research Methodology
Greg and Liesel’s Stories
Greg’s Story
Questions Posed By Greg, the Facilitator to the Students, Are Usually Something Like This
Liesel’s Story: ‘Tiptoeing Over the Hedgehogs’
Some Reflections
Conclusion
Notes
References
10 Reflections On Teaching for Social Justice at a South African University of Technology
Introduction
Conclusion
References
11 Postscript
Index
