Opening spaces of learning: a sociomaterial investigation of object-based approaches with migrant youth in and beyond the heritage language classroom

Charitonos, Koula (2022). Opening spaces of learning: a sociomaterial investigation of object-based approaches with migrant youth in and beyond the heritage language classroom. In: Lytra, Vally; Ros i Solé, Cristina; Anderson, Jim and Macleroy, Vicky eds. Liberating Language Education. Bristol: Multilingual Matters, pp. 205–225.

Abstract

Within debates about language teaching and learning, increasing attention has been placed on how digital, mobile and web technologies could be integrated in the language classroom in ways that will promote better uptake of languages. Such changes pose challenges for teachers who need to adapt their practice and embrace evidence-based pedagogy in the use of technology. The chapter presents an exploratory study undertaken as action research in two community schools in the UK, where migrant youth from Greek diaspora community were invited to explore traces of their Greek heritage in their UK context. The study drew on methods of inquiry learning (e.g., observation, data collection, reflection) and object-based approaches to learning combined with the use of web and mobile technologies to facilitate young people’s engagement in citizen-led inquiry (Herodotou et al., 2017) with a focus on social and cultural issues. Two stories are selected and discussed in the paper: a story drawing on a classroom-based lesson and another one on a community event that was organised as part of the study. Assuming a sociomaterial sensibility (Fenwick et al., 2011), the analysis focuses on understanding how teaching and learning in and beyond the classroom environment is enacted and negotiated. In such environments human and non-human actors, arrangements within and beyond the classroom, and entangled practices allow a shift away from a traditional view of language learning to pedagogical approaches that enable crossovers between learning spaces and connections between language and culture in the context of lived experience of the learners.

Viewing alternatives

Item Actions

Export

You can export this page using these formats

About

• Item ORO ID
• 69778
• Item Type
• Book Section
• ISBN
• 1-78892-793-1, 978-1-78892-793-2
• Project Funding Details

• Funded Project Name	Project ID	Funding Body
  Close-Up on Heritage Language Learners: An Inquiry project	Not Set	BRITAC British Academy

• Keywords
• heritage language; technology-enhanced learning; community education; heritage learners; socio-material approaches
• Academic Unit or School
• Institute of Educational Technology (IET)
• Research Group
• OpenTEL
• Related URLs
• • http://www.multilingual-matters.com/inde...(Other)
• Depositing User
• Koula Charitonos