James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2001

ED5510:04

Teaching ESL to Indigenous Students

Townsville

Inadmissable Subject Combination: ED4120

Flexible delivery nationally and internationally. First and second semester.

This subject reviews the theory and practice of teaching English to Indigenous children as a second language. It deals with the specific educational needs of Indigenous students, issues involving second language learning and oral language development. It considers specific issues related to reading and writing a second language for Indigenous peoples and considers how all these relate to culturally inclusive curricula.

Learning Objectives:

  1. acquire knowledge of issues related to TESL relevant to Indigenous contexts;
  2. consider strategies for the effective teaching of oral and written language to Indigenous children;
  3. develop reflective practices which can be utilised in the development and improvement of inclusive curricula.

Assessment by two practical tasks (1,000 words equivalent) (50%); a reflective paper (1,500-2,000 words) (50%).