Language on the Move

Language in education

Turkish alphabetisation for German integration

KOALA Buchstabenhaus (Adapted from: Urbanek, R. et al. (2006): Tinto grün. Arbeitsheft 1. Schreiben. Berlin: Cornelsen) Contemporary Germany is the 3rd largest immigrant-receiving country internationally. In 2008, 15.6mio inhabitants (19%…

Victoria BenzSeptember 13, 2011

News

Research assistant opportunity

Language-on-the-Move is looking for a research assistant! 1. The opportunity Language-on-the-Move has received funding for a research assistant (RA) under the Higher Education Participation and Partnership Program (HEPPP). The successful candidate…

Ingrid PillerSeptember 13, 2011

News

AMEP Longitudinal Study Now Underway

The 2nd phase of the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) Longitudinal Study is now underway with the new team meeting for the first time last week. The 2nd phase will…

Lg_on_the_moveSeptember 12, 2011

News

BAAL Book Prize 2011

We are thrilled that the BAAL Book Prize 2011 has been awarded to The Handbook of Language and Globalization edited by Nik Coupland. The book includes a chapter by Ingrid Piller and…

Ingrid PillerSeptember 4, 2011

Many tongues instead of one!

I was so grateful to read Ingrid Piller’s in-depth critical post on German language politics, where she offered a profound analysis of the assumptions underlying the campaign “Ich spreche Deutsch”.…

Bettina KleinerAugust 31, 2011

Language and globalization

Does internationalization change research content?

Source: Kang 2009, p. 201 Every linguistics undergraduate student is by now familiar with the fact of linguistic imperialism in academic publishing where the pressure to publish in international journals…

Ingrid PillerAugust 26, 2011

News

2011 Michael Clyne Memorial Lecture

Organised by The University of Sydney, The University of New South Wales, University of Technology, Sydney and Macquarie University Professor Mike Baynham School of Education, The University of Leeds, UK…

Lg_on_the_moveAugust 23, 2011

Language in education

Let’s reclaim our language!

Corporate double-speak is plummeting to ever lower depths and is insinuating itself into every aspect of our lives. Many see through this sustained assault on our collective intelligence, no doubt.…

Ingrid PillerAugust 21, 2011

English as a global language

Free language choice?

Pretty much everyone I know wants to learn English or improve their English – with the exception of those who consider themselves native speakers, obviously. What is more, everyone I…

Ingrid PillerAugust 16, 2011

Language learning

iBoyfriend

Having lived and taught English in Japan for more than fifteen years, until last night I’d thought I’d seen it all. That was until I stumbled across the もし彼氏が外国人だったら英会話 (What…

Lachlan JacksonAugust 11, 2011

Intercultural communication

I don’t know how to ride a donkey!

One of the most bizarre experiences I had during my stay in Australia was being asked by a European housemate whether it was difficult to ride a donkey. Huh?! How…

Vahid ParvareshAugust 9, 2011

Language learning

What is “Competent English”?

“PR” is probably one of the abbreviations I have heard most since coming to Australia. Despite the fact that PR – “permanent residence” for the non-initiated - is the much-coveted…

Grace Chu-Lin ChangAugust 5, 2011

Language learning

The magic of English

I recently returned to China from graduate study in Australia and soon reestablished my old habit of reading the newspaper over breakfast. One Sunday morning, this color flier was enclosed…

Zhang Jie 张洁July 22, 2011

The cult of personal responsibility

Ads for a campaign to speak German are currently all over Germany. The campaign is called “Ich spreche Deutsch” (I speak German) and aims to convince migrant youths to learn…

Ingrid PillerJuly 20, 2011

Multilingual histories

Intercultural communication and imperialism

Sir John Bagot Glubb (1897-1986) Many people tend to think that multilingual and intercultural communication skills are not only useful skills to have but are also somehow morally superior. Multilingual…

Ingrid PillerJuly 16, 2011

Multilingual histories

Pronunciation: A Matter of Life and Death

Translation of Christoph Gutknecht, “Codewort Schibboleth”, originally published in Jüdische Allgemeine, July 07, 2011 Each time I visit France and have breakfast there, I am reminded of Goethe. In his…

Ingrid PillerJuly 14, 2011