ABORIGINAL LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION
In a classroom setting, language is how teachers and students communicate. For Aboriginal people, “language, identity, land and cultural affiliations are deeply interconnected” (Harrison, 2011, p.183). It is important to acknowledge the many layers of language and dialects within the Aboriginal culture that students may bring into the classroom and the mandate on teachers to teach Standard Australian English (SAE) (Angelo and Frazer, 2008;). As such, it is important to support the use of Aboriginal English (first language) and also develop their awareness of the use of Standard Australian English (SAE) (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (2014). Bi-dialectal education is an effective form of scaffolding that can be used to help students get from …show more content…
Prepare students for code-switching
This strategy can be used to show students that Standard Australian English and Aboriginal English can be used in different situations for different purposes (NSW Public Schools, 2004).
4. Teach Standard Australian English
Standard English is the English of education but that is not to dismiss the importance of home languages and dialects, as is the case for Aboriginal students. Standard English needs to be taught from a cultural perspective, one that uses the home language to help understand Standard English. The English K-6 Syllabus acknowledges this and points out that “Teachers will help students to recognise the differences between school and home language, between standard and non-standard English, between idiomatic and literal language” (NSW Public Schools, 2004).
Learning from Djidi Djidi Aboriginal School
The example shown from Djidi Djidi Aboriginal school is one of understanding the importance of working with each child or family where they are at. Tegan Davis, the deputy principal affirms the need to “contextualise learning to meet the needs of the families and move away from a one size fits all model” (DET WA,
In a classroom setting, language is how teachers and students communicate. For Aboriginal people, “language, identity, land and cultural affiliations are deeply interconnected” (Harrison, 2011, p.183). It is important to acknowledge the many layers of language and dialects within the Aboriginal culture that students may bring into the classroom and the mandate on teachers to teach Standard Australian English (SAE) (Angelo and Frazer, 2008;). As such, it is important to support the use of Aboriginal English (first language) and also develop their awareness of the use of Standard Australian English (SAE) (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (2014). Bi-dialectal education is an effective form of scaffolding that can be used to help students get from …show more content…
Prepare students for code-switching
This strategy can be used to show students that Standard Australian English and Aboriginal English can be used in different situations for different purposes (NSW Public Schools, 2004).
4. Teach Standard Australian English
Standard English is the English of education but that is not to dismiss the importance of home languages and dialects, as is the case for Aboriginal students. Standard English needs to be taught from a cultural perspective, one that uses the home language to help understand Standard English. The English K-6 Syllabus acknowledges this and points out that “Teachers will help students to recognise the differences between school and home language, between standard and non-standard English, between idiomatic and literal language” (NSW Public Schools, 2004).
Learning from Djidi Djidi Aboriginal School
The example shown from Djidi Djidi Aboriginal school is one of understanding the importance of working with each child or family where they are at. Tegan Davis, the deputy principal affirms the need to “contextualise learning to meet the needs of the families and move away from a one size fits all model” (DET WA,