AUSTRALIA'S leading literacy experts have sent a letter to Education Minister Julia Gillard, saying that the National Curriculum Board (NCB) failed to consider recommendations of the National Inquiry into Teaching Literacy when drafting the new English curriculum. The letter criticized the board for caving in to the demands of a fringe group of university academics and teachers who argue against a back-to-basics emphasis on phonics in teaching reading. NCB general manager Rob Randall defended the curriculum draft, saying the inquiry findings would be evident in the curriculum, which was yet to be written.
US looks for new way to close literacy gap
美国:研究揭示提高读写能力新方法
A RECENT study by the Center for American Progress has found that the combination of systematic vocabulary instruction and expanded learning time has the potential to address the large and long-standing literacy gaps in US public schools. The findings can be especially beneficial for struggling readers and writers. According to the report, “Putting the Pieces of the Puzzle Together”, for implementing systematic vocabulary instruction, educators need to meet three goals: sustain a school-wide vocabulary program, assess student knowledge, and help teachers target the right words during instruction.
UK to review university language courses
英国:高校语言教学审查活动启动
THE provision of modern foreign languages in UK's universities will be reviewed amid concerns over cuts to course budgets and departments. Several top universities have announced that they face funding shortfalls that threaten language courses and departments. The review, commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), will look at recent language policies and the impact of investment, as well as make recommendations to HEFCE and ministers on the “long-term sustainability and vitality of modern foreign languages”.
