sue ollerhead

Senior lecturer/researcher in language and literacy education. Interested in multilingual pedagogies, language policy, translanguaging, oracy. Views my own.

[sue ollerhead @OllerheadSue]

There can be no doubt, the excellent #community #language #schools (CLS) sector plays an invaluable role in maintaining heritage language and cultural links to a rich diversity of communities. But they are only one piece of the puzzle. Sadly, CLS enrolment numbers drop off substantially in high school. In 2023, there were only 300 Stage 6 students enrolled in CLS across NSW (CESE, 2024). A healthy multilingual ecology would see #CLS, #LOTE and #bilingual #programs working together constructively to stem the decline in languages study across the country. Let’s not pit so-called ‘prestige languages‘ against ‘community languages’ - all languages have value to their speakers. #multilingualism #languages #education

[alice chik also @alicechik.bsky.social @alicechik]

It was a real fun interview & grateful for the opp to talk abt: You want your kids to speak a second language — what works? #community #language #schools #libraries #grandparents ? https://t.co/BMeh6GbmaC via @ABCaustralia

[sue ollerhead @OllerheadSue]

Please support if you believe in the value of university language learning not only for intercultural understanding, but as an intellectual pursuit in its own right. https://t.co/t8iAAHIJ0H

[AFMLTA Inc. @AFMLTA]

Towards a National Language Plan and Strategy is now live and downloadable!
Check out three newly published reports about the NLPS on our website: https://t.co/VnpOJ3v61f

[sue ollerhead @OllerheadSue]

@KristofSavski I think the same could be said of many concepts in language and literacy research. Not sure I agree that TL ‘reconfigures standards’ per se, but appreciate your views and insights, thanks Kristof.

[sue ollerhead @OllerheadSue]

I agree 💯 @KristofSavski but many of us working with translanguaging as a theory and practice are able to hold language fluidity and fixity in some semblance of balance. Many of us work in classrooms where standards permeate everything the teachers do. Think standardized literacy, numeracy standards, teacher professional standards etc etc. We find translanguaging immensely helpful for engaging multilingual students who would otherwise be left out of ‘mainstream’ classroom discourses and practices, while still being able to prepare them for the academic language they need to succeed. I feel this article sets up a false binary between teaching to standards and enabling access through multilingual approaches. It also seems to devalue qualitative research and dismisses critical engagement with language standards as ‘unnecessarily polarizing’. Surely we haven’t got to the stage where standards (and what they measure, how they measure them, whose interest they serve etc) cannot be critiqued?? 🤔

[sue ollerhead @OllerheadSue]

Pleased to have shared some thoughts about multilingualism on Australian university campuses in @timeshighered this morning.

https://t.co/wXLyJtVM9H

[Times Higher Education @timeshighered]

How can we train schoolteachers in cultural and linguistic diversity if our universities are English-only zones? Embed translanguaging practices in our courses, writes @OllerheadSue on #THECampus
https://t.co/K5fL0YlhUU

[sue ollerhead @OllerheadSue]

Most of us know this, but somehow this argument is often forgotten.

https://t.co/SO7Yn5V21s

[merryl wahlin @merrylwahlin]

Will continue to decrease as there is no appetite to discuss possible practical strategies to stem decline of students studying languages in NSW schools despite many reviews recommending increase in mandatory hours (only 100hrs K-12)@pruecar @NewsAtNESA @MLTANSW

[Liam Prince @acicisCD]

The number of students sitting the HSC in (all) languages fell by over 10% in 2023—from 6,144 students in 2022 to 5,514 students in 2023. Over past 30 yrs, the number of NSW Year 12 students sitting the HSC in (all) languages has halved, from a peak of 11,102 students in 1994.

[Graham Thom @drgrahamthom]

Many Afghan Australian families are desperately trying to reunite with loved ones trapped in Pakistan, they are terrified they will be forcibly returned, Pakistan must stop these deportations @amnestyOz

[sue ollerhead @OllerheadSue]

@modnalro68 @MQLinguistics Bravo, Professor Orlando!! 👏👏

[Julian Burnside @JulianBurnside]

It‘s horrifying how many lies the No campaign is telling. If you’re thinking of voting No, just read the proposed Constitutional change: nothing about a treaty, or taking your property. if you don’t know, read up a bit. Whatever you do, don’t fall for the lies.
Vote YES

[sue ollerhead @OllerheadSue]

@Josh_Prada Yibanohambo olukhuselekile Josh!

[sue ollerhead @OllerheadSue]

@Josh_Prada @Rhodes_Uni I was last there in @Makhanda on sabbatical in 2017. Would love to hear about yr experience afterwards!

[sue ollerhead @OllerheadSue]

@"South African Sign Language (SASL) Officially Recognized as the 12th Official Language in South Africa"https://t.co/Sne9cItwdH on @LinkedIn

Great news!

[sue ollerhead @OllerheadSue]

Great to contribute some reflections on oracy to @ScanJournal. Congratulations on a wonderful Term 4 issue!
@TecheMQ
@MultilingualSy1
@MQEducation
@MQLinguistics

[Scan @ScanJournal]

Don’t miss the Term 4 issue!

In our peer-reviewed research strand, Dr Sue Ollerhead argues the significance of explicitly teaching #oracy across the school curriculum: https://t.co/88hcxuUCwS

#EdChat #equity #professionalreading #k12 #speaking #listening @OllerheadSue

[sue ollerhead @OllerheadSue]

@home_language Great resource!