All too often, schools make decisions about language without a proper
understanding of the issues involved. Language Awareness at School
addresses this problem by exploring a range of topics related to
language, helping teachers to make informed choices about how to best
support their students in becoming more confident, aware speakers and
writers.
Written in collaboration by an academic linguist and an experienced
teacher, this essential book combines professional experience and
academic expertise to demonstrate how a language-aware approach to
education has the potential to transform both whole-school policy and
classroom practice.
Chapters explore such questions as the misconceptions surrounding the
use of 'Standard English', teachers' and students' local accents, the
development of cross-curricular speaking and writing skills and how to
reinvigorate Modern Foreign Languages. This book also works to undo
damaging prejudices about how students speak, instead highlighting
opportunities to encourage students to notice, examine and debate
language issues.
Language Awareness at School is a crucial read for all teachers,
trainee teachers and school leadership teams who want to make more
informed decisions regarding language issues in schools.