Language is connection: The attitudes of education staff in Kununurra, Western Australia towards Indigenous languages and multilingualism

Thesis

An exploratory, mixed-methods case study comprising of an online survey and semi-structured interviews was conducted with staff from schools and preschools in a remote town in Western Australia regarding attitudes towards multilingualism, traditional and modern Indigenous languages, the local Miriwoong language program, and the training which teachers receive in these areas. The small sample size was a limitation to generalisability of survey results, however it was clear that the attitude of education staff was generally positive. Qualitative interview responses gave rise to a framework of language as connection: to land and people, for both practical communication and the facilitation of respect, for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, and resulting in a variety of desirable outcomes. These results can be linked to current issues in language policy and multilingual pedagogy.

Authors: Menzies, I

• Type of award: MSc taught course
• Level of award: Masters
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: ALSLA; Teacher atitudes; Multilingualism; Reconciliation; Exploratory; Case study; Decolonising methodology; English as an additional language; Online survey; Kriol; Connection; Australia; Language revitalisation; Langauge revival; Yearning methodology; Miriwoong; Heritage; Qualtrics; ALSLA2021; Indigneous; English as an additional language or dialect; Semi-structured interview; Language atitudes; Mixed methods research; Aboriginal language; Country; Culture
• Subjects: Multilingualism; Online survey; Mixed methods research; Applied linguistics; English language--Study and teaching--Foreign speakers