Quick-fix English: discontinuities in a language development aid project

Taylor-Leech, Kerry (2009) Quick-fix English: discontinuities in a language development aid project. English Teaching: Practice and Critique, 8 (1). pp. 97-111. ISSN 1175-8708

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Abstract

In this classroom narrative article I discuss some of my experiences as a teacher in an Australian government-funded English language development aid project during the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET). The program formed part of an emergency response to the devastating violence that accompanied the Indonesian withdrawal from the country after 24 years of occupation. Using journal extracts based on my ethnographic research in East Timor, I outline some telling pedagogical and social disconnections that arose between the development community and the community it purported to serve. I note aspects of my experience that might be relevant to other language development aid projects in a post-colonial, globalising world.

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Item Type:	Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	English Teaching: Practice and Critique articles are copyrighted by the respective authors. http://edlinked.soe.waikato.ac.nz/research/journal/index.php?id=1
Depositing User:	Dr Kerry Taylor-Leech
Faculty / Department / School:	Historic - Faculty of Education
Date Deposited:	04 Mar 2010 05:25
Last Modified:	01 Sep 2014 02:59
Uncontrolled Keywords:	East Timor; English; development aid; language in development; UNTAET
Fields of Research :	13 Education > 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy > 130207 LOTE, ESL and TESOL Curriculum and Pedagogy (excl. Maori) 13 Education > 1303 Specialist Studies in Education > 130302 Comparative and Cross-Cultural Education 20 Language, Communication and Culture > 2004 Linguistics > 200401 Applied Linguistics and Educational Linguistics
Socio-Economic Objective:	C Society > 93 Education and Training > 9399 Other Education and Training > 939903 Equity and Access to Education
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/6955

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