Post-event update

Melanie Cooke led a seminar via Zoom on 28 June 2023, discussing her practice-oriented research on linguistic citizenship and adult migrant language education. Her work is undertaken in the field known as English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), language education for adult migrants in English-dominant countries. This line of work continues her commitment to critical, participatory and social justice-oriented research and practice in language education. Around 30 people joined us online, mainly from Hong Kong, the UK and China. We were very happy to welcome members of the UK’s ESOL-Research forum, for whom the session was particularly relevant. 

Developed in post-apartheid South Africa by Christopher Stroud and other colleagues, ‘linguistic citizenship’ is committed to democratic participation and voice, to linguistic diversity and the value of sociolinguistic understanding. In her seminar, Melanie discussed how far linguistic citizenship might be a useful concept for language educators. She was drawing on her decades-long experience of language education. Currently Senior Lecturer in ESOL & Applied Linguistics at King’s College, London and convenor of the Hub for Education and Language Diversity (HELD), she is a significant figure in the field of ESOL. She is an activist academic, instrumental in a number of key campaigns over the past two decades, including Action for ESOL and the Queering ESOL movement. Her collaborations with English for Action and others include the Whose Integration? and Our Languages projects. Her 2008 book (with James Simpson), ESOL: A Critical Guide, remains the most comprehensive overview of the field of ESOL. Her edited book (with Rob Peutrell) Brokering Britain, Educating Citizens: Exploring ESOL and Citizenship is recognized as a landmark volume. We’re grateful to Melanie for making the presentation slides and the recording available.

Listen to the seminar recording here:

Developed in post-apartheid South Africa by Christopher Stroud and other colleagues, ‘linguistic citizenship’ (Stroud 2001) is committed to democratic participation and voice, to linguistic diversity and the value of sociolinguistic understanding. In this seminar, Melanie Cooke discusses how far linguistic citizenship might be a useful concept for language educators. Whilst the examples she cites are from the UK, participants will be invited to reflect on the application of the ideas in their own contexts.

Melanie Cooke has been involved in English language teaching for over thirty years and is currently Senior Lecturer in ESOL & Applied Linguistics at King’s College, London. Her books include Brokering Britain, Educating Citizens: Exploring ESOL and Citizenship (2019 with Rob Peutrell) and ESOL: A Critical Guide (2008, with James Simpson). She is convenor of the Hub for Education and Language Diversity (HELD) and a collaborator with English for Action (EFA). 

Event Handouts, Materials & Recommended Readings