Community Languages Education in a Globalised World
An exciting opportunity exists for a commencing PhD student to further our understanding and support for community language schools worldwide.
Community languages schools (also referred to as heritage, complementary, ethnic or Saturday schools) represent a key language education sector worldwide. They are out-of-hours schools operating on weekends and weeknights, typically set up and operated by motivated parents and community members seeking to teach languages and culture to children and subsequent generations.
Although community language schools have existed since the 18th century, scholarly interest in these schools is relatively recent. There is a need to further understand the complexities of these education providers, including their changing roles, practices and outcomes in current educational contexts. We therefore invite HDR proposals on community language schools that include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
- Teaching and learning in community language schools
- Young people and translanguaging
- The role of community languages education for families and communities and wider society
- Relationships with other education providers both local and international
- Language policy and planning
- Assessment and outcomes
- Curriculum planning, programming and resources
- Special needs
- Technology and online/ blended language learning after COVID 19
- Language and cultural practices in community languages schools
- School organisation and sustainability.
This study will spearhead the development of new knowledge in the field of community languages education. It will lead future international research trajectories in the field and address emerging gaps. It will expand our theoretical, pedagogical and methodological understanding of community language schools and community language school research.
Based in the Sydney School of Education and Social Work, the successful applicant will work closely with a larger team of researchers whose focus is community language schools, language learning, and education. Considered collectively, the team has published research that covers a broad range of issues in community language schools, including teaching and learning, technology and computer-assisted language learning, teacher professional learning pathways, assessment and issues of equity and student access to language learning.
This project represents an opportunity to work with established researchers on a cutting-edge research project. The lead supervisors, Professor Ken Cruickshank and Dr Janica Nordstrom, have extensive expertise and publication records in the area of community language school research and have supervised more than 12 HDR students in the field of community language school research in the past five years.
Applicants are invited to submit a proposal for PhD research that aligns directly to this project.
Prospective candidates may qualify for direct entry into the PhD program if their research proposal (see above) is accepted and they satisfy at least one of the criteria listed below.
- Bachelor's degree with first- or second-class honours in an appropriate area of study that includes a research thesis based on primary data not literature review
- Master's degree by research in an appropriate area of study that includes a research thesis that draws on primary data
- Master's degree by coursework, with a research thesis or dissertation of 12,000–15,000 words that draws on primary data not literature review, with a grade-point average of at least 80 per cent in the degree.
- Demonstrated appropriate professional experience and alternative qualifications in the field of study.
For more information regarding applying for a PhD refer to the course details for Doctor of Philosophy (Arts and Social Sciences).
Please also refer to guidelines for preparing a research proposal.
A number of scholarships are available to support your studies.
- Australian Government RTP Scholarship (Domestic)
- Australian Government RTP Scholarship (International)
- University of Sydney International Strategic Scholarship
These scholarships will provide a stipend allowance of $35,629 per annum for up to 3.5 years. Successful international students will also receive a tuition fee scholarship for up to 3.5 years.
For other scholarship opportunities refer to FASS Research Scholarships (Domestic) or FASS Research Scholarships (International).
For further details about the PhD project contact:
- Professor Ken Cruickshank at ken.cruickshank@sydney.edu.au
- Dr Janica Nordstrom at janica.nordstrom@sydney.edu.au.