This paper makes a link between two activities in which the author is engaged, i.e. between work on "saving" languages and work on "teaching" languages. Since it is an invited address, the Keith Horwood Memorial Lecture, the author begins by making further, and chronologically prior, to Keith Horwood. Then he addresses three themes of the…

For young bilingual students a feeling of connection to their background languages and cultures forms one important aspect of their developing identities. This paper addresses some of the findings from a larger study examining students' understandings of their identities as bilingual. The study involved students who are part of a bilingual program…

Premature discontinuation rates among second language students in New Zealand are higher than for most other subjects in secondary schools, although this phenomenon has not given rise to a great deal of debate within the NZ language teaching community. In a recent study into premature discontinuation in Christchurch, NZ, the most frequently cited…

Drawing on two major developments in languages education, namely communicative language teaching and frameworks of outcomes and standards, this address presents a reflection on "words" as the most basic resource of language teachers, and the way in which they are always open to interpretation and reinterpretation over time. With both developments,…

In this article, the author gives a short account of her own perceptions about teaching and learning a second language in Australian schools. She emphasises that these are her own observations, which have been coloured by her conversations with language teaching colleagues and students over many years. In this respect her views differ from those…

The issue of multi-level classrooms and of the increasingly differentiated nature of students' learning experiences continues to be a major challenge for language teachers. It's safe to say that wherever two or more language teachers are gathered together, the "problem" of multi-level classrooms will figure somewhere in the conversation.…

Examines attitudes toward indigenous languages in Australia. Suggests that if indigenous languages were granted official status, they would develop and modernize in response, rather than die out.(Author/VWL)

In addressing the theme of transition in learning languages, describes aspects of three projects. Data are drawn from the projects to highlight issues in context, culture, and communication and principles that support transition and continuity in learning languages. (Author/VWL)

Highlights strategies and processes implemented across two schools as part of the Languages Focus Schools project in Australia. The intention was to improve outcomes for student learning in Spanish through a streamlined approach to programming, assessment, and transition from the first year of primary school to Grade 9, with a focus on the middle…

Describes a collaborative project whose goal was to explore ways to improve transition for students who have been learning a language in primary school for up to 7 years and choose to continue with this language when they enter high school. (Author/VWL)

Discusses assessment of student language learning in relation to the transition from elementary to secondary level education in Australia. (Author/VWL)

Discusses transitioning students from primary to secondary language programs from a Tasmanian perspective. Identifies factors important in a smooth transition from the primary to secondary level, based on research, and outlines the Tasmanian issues and action plans and acknowledges the challenges that remain. (Author/VWL)

Focuses on what has been learned from the implementation and evaluation of the Australian Language and Continuity Initiative (LCI) in relation to addressing transition issues in language education. (Author/VWL)

Identified principles that informed the lesson practices of three language teachers to find out why they did what they did in heir lessons. Used teachers lesson practices as a starting point to ensure that the nexus between practitioners' theory and practice was maintained. Sought to provide information about patterns followed by teachers in their…

Provides ideas for inspiring language Learning and maintaining Australia's common wealth as a multicultural society. Focuses on hands-on activities that stimulate language learning communities to negotiate and promote excitement and enthusiasm for languages, while creating community support. (Author/VWL)