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Special Interest Group

Literacy and Language

Members of this SIG have interests in exploring the relationship between language and literacy and work in related fields, such as cultural studies and multi-modality (the central focus is on language rather than on these areas in themselves). Aims of the group:

  • to establish a voice in BERA with regard to policy and practice for research into language and literacy in education
  • to create a forum for exploration of the implications for education of research in the area of language and literacy
  • to use the SIG as an opportunity to learn from work by colleagues in a number of areas including: Multilingualism; TESOL; MFL; Literacy Studies; Classroom Discourse Analysis/ Interactional Studies; Media and Literacy; Policy Studies; Popular Culture and Language

A further important function of the SIG is to establish meetings and strands at BERA Annual meetings, in particular to avoid overlap and clashes of language-related sessions and to convene meetings and seminars during the year.

SIG Convenors

Profile picture of Barbara Skinner
Barbara Skinner, Dr

Senior Lecturer in TESOL at Ulster University

Dr Barbara Skinner is a senior lecturer in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) in the School of Education at Ulster University. Barbara runs the MA TESOL programme in the School of Education where she lectures on a range of...

Profile picture of Karen Forbes
Karen Forbes, Dr

Associate Professor in Education at University of Cambridge

Karen Forbes is an associate professor in second language education at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge. Before completing her PhD in 2016, Karen taught modern languages in secondary schools in England and has also worked as an...

Content associated with this SIG

BERA Conference 2023

12 September 2023 to 14 September 2023Aston University/ Conference Aston

Welcome to the BERA Annual Conference 2023 Authors notified of outcome of submission on the 17th March 2023 BERA is delighted to announce a record number of abstract submissions for our BERA...

Upcoming conference12 Sep 2023

Spotlight on language and literacy

This special issue of the BERA Blog places a spotlight on educational research in the field of language and literacy. Covering a range of topics from modern language learning to language as an...

Books

Blog series