Embedding and integrating language and academic skills: An innovative approach

  • Anne Jillian Harris Edith Cowan University
  • Joanna Ashton Academic Skills Centre, Faculty of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
Keywords: English language proficiency, embedded learning support, EAL students

Abstract

A growing body of research into the provision of learning support suggests that good practice is exemplified by the integration of language and academic skills (LAS) into specifically targeted core discipline units. There are many reasons offered: that contextualised support picks up weaker students who commonly fail to self-select for voluntary workshops; that students favour contextualised workshops over general workshops, often perceiving the latter to have little relevance to them; that the number of students in Australian universities with English as an additional language (EAL) has increased markedly over the past decade; and that in some units the delivery of contextualised support serves to “up-skill” academic staff. The authors of this paper argue that integrated learning support makes good use of limited resources for all stakeholders: discipline academics, learning advisors and students. The paper explores the experiences of these stakeholders in a core management unit of the MBA at Edith Cowan University over a period of three semesters. It outlines the various tasks involved in this innovative embedding project both in terms of team meetings for the discipline staff and learning advisor, and class time allocated to LAS development. It also evaluates the benefits through student feedback and interviews with members of the embedding team. The authors conclude that the approach taken in this project was effective in supporting incremental, discipline-specific LAS development for students and in raising awareness among discipline teaching staff of the importance of LAS development.

Author Biography

Anne Jillian Harris, Edith Cowan University
Dr Anne Harris is a Senior Lecturer and the Project and Research Manager in the Teaching and Learning Office, Faculty of Business and Law at Edith Cowan University. She has been an academic for almost 20 years, initially lecturing within the Bachelor of Arts program in the Faculty of Education and Arts. She is involved in managing various teaching and learning projects, one of which is the Business Literacy and Numeracy Project.
Published
2011-11-13
How to Cite
HarrisA. J., & AshtonJ. (2011). Embedding and integrating language and academic skills: An innovative approach. Journal of Academic Language and Learning, 5(2), A73-A87. Retrieved from https://journal.aall.org.au/index.php/jall/article/view/158