A community for those interested in researching the teaching and learning of English Language and English Literature in schools
The teaching and learning of English are endlessly fascinating, endlessly complex and endlessly powerful. Ours remains the most quicksilver (Dixon, 1975) of subjects, constantly evolving and subject to multiple, simultaneous pressures. This means that there is always more to discover, know and understand.
Thankfully there is a strong, rich tradition of research into the teaching and learning of English. Even more thankfully, much of this research has its origins in the classroom, often instigated by teachers.
This is important, as it keeps research linked to practice; researching English is rarely abstract or purely academic. Rather, it tends to be rooted in the interests of students and teachers themselves, often with a strong focus on social justice. One of the consequences of this is that research into the teaching and learning of English is very likely to have a direct impact on young people’s futures.
However, we also know that the act of researching is challenging. Finding the time to plan and carry out high quality research is no easy task, especially if you work in a school. It might feel almost impossible for teachers to find time in their professional lives to make the shift from teacher to researcher; or to put it another way, it might feel almost impossible for teachers to find the time to think in the hectic life of a school. It can also be challenging to find others who are also interested in the kind of research you do.
So, what we are proposing is creating a space where a community of like-minded individuals can meet, chat and share.
This is a community for those interested in researching the teaching and learning of English Language and English Literature in schools. We anticipate that the majority of those joining this community will be in some way researching what is known as L1 teaching; in other words, they will be thinking about the teaching and learning of English in English-medium contexts rather than English as an additional language. The teaching of English in L2 contexts is equally vital and fascinating, with an equally rich tradition of research, but it is a different discipline to L1 teaching. For now, we want to keep the focus on L1 teaching.
Joining this community is entirely voluntary. You may already be a member of multiple organisations, such as NATE, the English Association, UKLA, ARLE or BERA, or none. All are welcome. Our hope is that this community will help connect people, so that we can share ideas, concerns, strategies and interests. New ideas and opportunities may emerge through these new connections; that is how growth occurs, and we would like to help the research community strengthen and grow.
In terms of practicalities, we expect that this community will meet online two or three times a year, although it would also be great to have a face-to-face meeting at some point. Soon there will be a simple online space where participants can see each other’s research interests and email contact details. This will allow you to find others who are exploring similar fields to yours, and give you the information you need to make connections. We may also share some articles or useful links, but we do not expect this space to become a major repository of resources; if you are studying, you should already have access to good quality support through your current institutions.
So, if you are interested in being a part of this community then register your interest using the button above. This asks you to share your research interests, and also to offer some suggestions about what you want from this community. It also asks that you agree for your email details to be shared with other members of the community.
We are clear that the teaching and learning of English are amongst the most important activities in English speaking societies. We are equally clear that the people who know it the best are the people directly involved with teaching and researching the subject – i.e. you.
Our hope is that by helping you connect with others involved with similar research through this community, we can help this most quicksilver of subjects strengthen and grow.
John Perry (University of Nottingham)
Rachel Roberts (University of Reading)
Lorna Smith (University of Bristol)
Dixon, J. (1975). Growth Through English (Third ed.). NATE.
