This collection of essays by leading functional linguists presents the latest perspectives on language and discourse in educational settings. The book questions the idea of 'discourse' to reveal that the social processes of learning are imbued with the ideologies of the society and education system within which learning takes place. The contributors take into account the historical and cross-cultural perspectives of both classroom practices and the student's own awareness of the ideological meanings of language activities.
Language, Education and Discourse is divided into two sections. Part one covers early childhood and the growing development of a language system in kindergarten and primary school. Part two furthers this analysis by looking at discourse in secondary and tertiary education. The contributors pose questions about the ideological content of reading material, the role and importance of teaching grammar in the school system, and finally examine how to refine the discourse of education.
This book will be useful to academics in the latest functional perspectives on language and education.