Languages & Literacies Education
Languages and literacies enable people to walk in different worlds, access the thoughts and perspectives of others, and make linguistic and cultural connections. Effective teaching of languages and literacies is vitally important at all learning stages and in all learning areas.
Our teaching and research activities are informed by our special place in Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly our places in Tāmaki-Makaurau Auckland and Tai Tokerau Northland. Our context is that of a bi-cultural country with a special relationship with our close Pacific neighbours. Over a third of the students in our region are Māori or Pacific and Tāmaki-Makaurau Auckland is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse cities in the world.
We contribute to all initial teacher education programmes and offer the BEd (TESOL) as well as two post graduate specialisations: The Postgraduate Literacy Specialisation and the Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma in Teaching Linguistically Diverse Learners.
We also have two research centres: The Marie Clay Research Centre and Te Pūtahi Woolf Fisher Research Centre.
Our group represents several disciplines including psychology, linguistics, applied linguistics and literary and curriculum studies. We employ multiple theoretical perspectives and methodologies in our research, including research-practice partnerships, the modus operandi of several prominent literacy interventions.
Academics in our discipline group are:
Associate Professor Aaron Wilson
Dr Angel Chan
Dr Christine Biebricher
Dr Constanza Tolosa
Ms Cynthia Orr
Dr Jacinta Oldehaver
Professor Janet Gaffney
Professor Lawrence Zhang
Associate Professor Mei Kuin Lai
Michelle McKinlay
Dr Naashia Mohamed
Associate Professor Rebecca Jesson
Associate Professor Rosemary Erlam
Ms Selena Meiklejohn-Whiu
Professor Stuart McNaughton