Joanna MC PAKE

From Precis

is Director of the Scottish Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research (Scottish CILT), part of the Institute of Education at the University of Stirling. The Centre is a national body dedicated to promoting language learning and supporting the professional development of languages teachers in Scotland.

Originally a teacher of English as an additional language, Joanna has a long-standing interest in community language learning and teaching, and has conducted studies of provision in mainstream schools and complementary classes in the UK and in Europe (the VALEUR study reported here). She is currently completing research on opportunities to study community languages in higher education in England.

Joanna argues for recognition of the economic, social and cultural benefits which community languages, and community language learners, offer society. She also advocates a broad conceptualisation of language learners, regardless of whether their concern is ‘foreign’, ‘additional’ or ‘community’ languages. Teachers need to recognise both their very varied language learning histories, not always limited to the language classroom but influenced by a wide range of linguistic encounters locally as well as abroad; and also the very wide range of goals they may have, ranging from personal growth, intellectual engagement and cultural participation to career enhancement and opportunities to make a contribution to the local community and wider society. Such recognition entails a responsive approach which embraces – rather than seeks to minimise – diversity of experience and purpose.