Inspiring Innovations in Language Teaching

By Judith Hamilton

The author considers in lively detail four examples of innovations in foreign language teaching within a Scottish context: languages in the primary school, the Lothian curriculum renewal project, perspectives of an innovative school department and a training institution's partnership approach to initial teacher training. Beside each Scottish example are set complementary pieces involving developments in other parts of the world: Australia's National Language Policy, the Bangalore project from India, New Zealand's public service reforms and an American institutional approach to innovation. Combined, they help to illuminate some key issues which the book explores. Part 1 is concerned with the need of innovation for legitimacy and the conflict between central control and local initiative. The subject of Part 2 is the potential of a campaigning model to foster curriculum renewal; driven by issues, not ideologies, with participants, not recipients, leaders, not managers, campaigns involve teachers in their own development in a unique manner. Part 3 considers how organisational structures can enhance teachers' capacities for innovation, while Part 4 examines ways of releasing and sustaining teachers' creativity.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1853592846
• ISBN13: 9781853592843
• Release Date: November 1995
• Publisher: Multilingual Matters Limited
• Length: 304 Pages