The group’s language-related research is informed by a social view of languages, discourses and literacies and it is characterised by considerable inter-disciplinarity, drawing on recent developments in Sociolinguistics, Applied Linguistics, Critical Discourse Analysis, Linguistic Ethnography, Systemic Functional Linguistics, Genre Analysis and Social Theory. The group’s literature-related research is informed by a range of contemporary critical theories, particularly those relevant to the discursive construction of identities and sexualities, and takes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on cutting-edge approaches to Literary Theory, Cultural Studies and Sociology. The research of the group encompasses eight broad areas:

Recent staff publications (2008-2009) (PDF, 20KB opens up in new window)

Theme 1: Research on the discursive construction and negotiation of identities in multilingual contexts.

Theme 2: Research on classroom interaction, teacher collaboration, the teaching and learning of English as an Additional Language, English as a Foreign Language and Modern Foreign Languages.

Theme 3: Ethnographic research on literacy in different sites: schools, colleges, workplaces, local neighbourhoods and local life worlds.

Theme 4: Ethnographic and discourse analytic research on language and the construction of gendered identities and sexualities

Theme 5: Qualitative research related to initial teacher education and language teacher development

Theme 6: The development of critical, interpretive research methods and new theory-building in language-related inquiry in education.

Theme 7: Research on youth work policy and practice in multiethnic urban neighbourhoods , including research on gender, faith, Islam, migration, diasporic experiences and the construction of racialised identities.

Theme 8: Research on the discursive construction of identities in literature and in film.

Engagement with users

Members of the research group are active in using their research to shape educational policy and provision.

Policy related to language in education:

• invitations to attend meetings with the Ethnic Minority Achievement Project, DfES.
• invitations to the DfES Aiming High Conferences in 2005
• keynote presentations at meetings convened by professional associations such as NALDIC[1] (2000 – 2005) and NASSEA[2] (2000 – 2006).
• ESRC-funded research on complementary schooling has been presented to government at ministerial level.
• invitations from CiLT, the National Centre for Languages, to offer specialist perspectives on community language provision in England.

[1] National Association for Language Development in the Curriculum (NALDIC)

[2] Northern Association of Support Services for Equality and Achievement

For further information, please contact Professor Angela Creese (Group Lead)

Visiting scholars and doctoral Students

LDS welcomes links with other scholars, nationally and internationally. Each year a small number of academics are guests of LDS in the School of Education and the aim is to continue to develop networks and relationships through these and other research links. For those interested in visiting LDS at Birmingham download the Information for visiting scholars document [pdf].