Project Title: Language learning and instruction in Namibian secondary schools: The importance of understanding contextual nuances when addressing international targets in education, including quality and education for all
Supervisors:
Dr
Gari Donn and Dr Alan Barnard
Research
topic:
Since
the first international education conference in
Africa held in Addis Ababa in 1960, global target
setting in education, with special focus on developing
countries, has become commonplace. Increasing enrolment was the focus of the
Addis Ababa conference. Currently, how to meet the goals set out in UNESCO's
Millennium Development report, including education for all and quality in education,
has been the subject of much debate and discussion at recent international education
conferences. Within this global context, my research will attempt to address
the changing dynamics of English Second Language as a subject at two high schools
in Windhoek, Namibia. Nuances of context lead to successes and failures regarding
quality language instruction and learning. My research will attempt to draw
out these contextual nuances and connect them to the theme of quality in education
as it is addressed in international education policy documents.
Teaching experience:
Lecturer
on an Argument and Rhetoric course for undergraduates
and English Literature and Composition, Duquesne
University, USA.
Publications & presentations:
The
Sunshine Boys: Stories of school culture and
quality language learning in Namibia, presented
at the Language Education Research Seminar
series at the University of Edinburgh 2008.
Grants & awards:
2008 The Godfrey Thompson PhD Research Support Award
2007 Moray House School of Education Conference Grant
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