Introducing Language Documentation to EFL Learners: a Project-Based Curriculum

Almost half of the languages spoken in the world today are in danger of disappearing, and the human and financial resources devoted to the documentation and revitalization of vulnerable languages are nowhere near enough to meet the need. In contrast, English is a required subject worldwide and English Language Teaching (ELT) is a multi-billion-dollar industry. This project aims to make English part of the solution to the problem of language loss by leveraging the abundant resources available to ELT to support vulnerable languages which are often neglected in formal education. This will be accomplished through a project-based English as a Foreign Language (EFL) curriculum which introduces the principles and methods of language documentation and culminates in a group project involving the local language(s). This innovative curriculum follows current best practices in ELT by incorporating culturally sustaining, asset-based, and multilingual pedagogies. The research site for the implementation and evaluation of this curriculum is Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca in the linguistically diverse city of Oaxaca, Mexico. The adaptable curriculum is designed to be customized for each individual context and can be used in a variety of educational settings.

Faculty Supervisor:

Kumiko Murasugi

Student:

Partner:

Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

Carleton University

Program: