Debates in English Teaching

by Jon Davison (Editor), Caroline Daly (Editor), John Moss (Editor)

What are the key debates in English teaching today?Debates in English Teaching explores the major issues all English teachers encounter in their daily professional lives. It engages with established and contemporary debates, promotes and supports critical reflection and aims to stimulate both novice and experienced teachers to reach informed judgements and argue their point of view with deeper theoretical knowledge and understanding.Key issues debated professional identity of English teachersattitudes to correctness in grammar and standard Englishthe importance of the media and new technologiessocial class and literacythe nature of the dialogic classroomthe role of wider readingthe politics of early literacy.With its combination of expert opinion and fresh insight, Debates in English Teaching is the ideal companion for all student and practising teachers engaged in initial training, continuing professional development and master's level study.

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting exploration of a range of debates around the teaching of English. Lots of it was very thought-provoking and I liked that often one was presented with a variety of ideas, leaving judgements and evaluations to the reader. I haven’t given this 5* because I felt that it was a little patchy; each chapter has different writers and some were more interesting and compelling than others.

The chapter on dialogic pedagogy made me reflect on my own practice and gave me several practical ideas to use in lessons.

I also found debates about high and low culture and the gatekeeping of canonical texts timely and worth exploring in more detail.

Overall, an impressive complication of the myriad issues and debates around the teaching of English. Really pleased I’ve read it!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A challenging and broad read - 3*

For myself, my degree and my interests, only a few chapters of this book were useful. I think this book sets itself with quite a pretentious voice. This book analyses the different viewpoints of the different elements of teaching and then decides which it thinks is the best way to teach and/or believe.

This book is for teachers of English; this is from primary to Post-16 (A level) teaching.

[Annabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This text provides great inspiration for thinking about the English curriculum and English teaching in schools, on an academic level. Comprised of chapters contributed from several academics in the field, this text provides great inspiration for students and other academics.