Teaching English in Samoa: Coming of Age

Ljungdahl, L

Teaching English in Samoa: Coming of Age

Ljungdahl, L

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Publisher:: Common Ground
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: The International Journal of Learning, 2007, 14 pp. 1 - 7
Issue Date:: 2007-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Ljungdahl, L	en_US
dc.date.issued	2007-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	The International Journal of Learning, 2007, 14 pp. 1 - 7	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1447-9494	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/6366
dc.description.abstract	The expansion of English as a global language as a language of communication involves issues of cultural and linguistic diversity (Cummins, 1997). 21 student-teachers from an Australian university had the opportunity to give English language instruction in four Samoan primary schools. They undertook a 3 week international teaching practicum program (in 2006) and this experience provides the contextual background for an exploration of issues in English language teaching in Samoa. Observations of their teaching experiences showed that communicative language approaches to second language teaching worked successfully. In particular, picture books, language games and the use of songs with their music, rhyme, rhythm and repetition helped the acquisition of English language. Paradoxically, the practicum highlighted the importance of the maintenance of vernacular languages and the costs and benefits of teaching English. The reality of their classroom experiences contributed to reflective teaching practice and a raised awareness of the significance of indigenous culture	en_US
dc.publisher	Common Ground	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	The International Journal of Learning	en_US
dc.title	Teaching English in Samoa: Coming of Age	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	14	en_US
utslib.for	130313 Teacher Education and Professional Development of Educators	en_US
utslib.for	08 Information and Computing Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	13 Education	en_US
utslib.for	16 Studies in Human Society	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/School of Education
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.consider-herdc	true	en_US
pubs.volume	14	en_US

Abstract:

The expansion of English as a global language as a language of communication involves issues of cultural and linguistic diversity (Cummins, 1997). 21 student-teachers from an Australian university had the opportunity to give English language instruction in four Samoan primary schools. They undertook a 3 week international teaching practicum program (in 2006) and this experience provides the contextual background for an exploration of issues in English language teaching in Samoa. Observations of their teaching experiences showed that communicative language approaches to second language teaching worked successfully. In particular, picture books, language games and the use of songs with their music, rhyme, rhythm and repetition helped the acquisition of English language. Paradoxically, the practicum highlighted the importance of the maintenance of vernacular languages and the costs and benefits of teaching English. The reality of their classroom experiences contributed to reflective teaching practice and a raised awareness of the significance of indigenous culture

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/6366