Appliable linguistics and english language teaching: the Scaffolding Literacy in Adult and Tertiary Environments (SLATE) project

Authors

Ahmar Mahboob, University of Sydney
Shoshana J. Dreyfus, University of SydneyFollow
Sally Humphrey, University of Sydney
James R. Martin, University of Sydney

RIS ID

112498

Publication Details

Mahboob, A., Dreyfus, S., Humphrey, S. & Martin, J. R. (2010). Appliable linguistics and english language teaching: the Scaffolding Literacy in Adult and Tertiary Environments (SLATE) project. In A. Mahboob & N. K. Knight (Eds.), Appliable Linguistics (pp. 25-43). London, United Kingdom: Continuum International Publishing Group. http://www.bloomsbury.com/au/appliable-linguistics-9781441164155/

Link to publisher version (URL)

Continuum International Publishing Group

Abstract

This chapter introduces the Scaffolding Literacy in Adult and Tertiary Environments (SLATE) project¹, which is an ongoing action research project that aims to scaffold the academic literacy skills of students from a non-English-speaking background (NESB) studying at an English medium university, via the use of online learning environments. The SLATE project uses an applicable linguistics framework in that it builds on and extends a theory of language in response to a real-world issue (Halliday, 2006). The SLATE project draws on Sydney School theories of genre (Martin, 1993; Kress, 1993; Martin and Rose, 2008), register (Halliday 1991; Martin, 1992) and other dimensions of language and semiosis within the Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) tradition. In this chapter, we outline the broad principles and knowledge that this project is based upon, share some of the project's achievements (with examples from one of the courses supported by the project) and indicate some future directions for the project.