Faculty of Education Competitive Grants

Project Title: Language and children's constructions of national identity

Chief Investigator: Paul Molyneux

Funded by: Faculty of Education Competitive Grants

Project Summary: This study aims to investigate the degree to which children perceive a person's first language and English proficiency shapes one's identity. It aims to explore whether children see language as a factor that potentially excludes ESL children from being identified- and identifying- as Australian. If only certain forms of linguistics and cultural knowledge are perceived to be truly valued by schools and society, many students risk becoming alienated and disengaged. Therefore, this study hopes to illuminate what identity issues should be addressed in order to facilitate greater levels of student involvement in their learning and enhanced empowerment in their future lives.