The Politics of Language Education : Individuals and Institutions

This book highlights the importance of micropolitics in shaping language education policy, development and projects. It discusses background theory to understanding micropolitics, issues surrounding the research and publication of political behaviour by individuals and institutions, and presents case studies from a range of different contexts.

Politics can be a very important influence on educational developments and their deployment. However, this volume is different from other volumes since it looks, not at the macropolitics and the ideological agendas of nations and multinational or global organisations, but rather focuses on micropolitics, the agendas and motivations of individuals within organisations, and on their actions. Micropolitics can be seen as ways of manoeuvring within institutions which are themselves not political, but commercial, financial and educational. Indeed, politics with a small p includes not only institutional politics, but also personal politics, which can influence language education both in daily matters, and in projects for innovation and change. The aim of this edited book is to begin a debate about the nature and role of micropolitics, to contribute to a better understanding of language education, change and resistance to change, and the processes of language education.

An overview / the editor Setting the scene / J. Charles alderson Professional advice vs political imperatives / Alan Davies Micropolitical issues in ELT project implementation / Tom Hunter The politics of ELT projects in China / Ron Kerr Teaching immigrants the language of the host community: two object lessons in the need for continuous policy development / David Little and Barbara Lazenby Simpson The commercialization of language provision at university / Glenn Fulcher Micropolitics in multinational language assessment systems / Mark Crossey Challenges and constraints in language test development / Gary Buck The politics of examination reform in Central Europe Karmen Piorn and Edit Nagy Language educational policies within a European framework / Neus Figueras The micropolitics of research and publication / J. Charles Alderson. Contents Acknowledgement Contributors An Overview 1. Setting the Scene 2. Professional Advice vs Political Imperatives 3. Micropolitical Issues in ELT Project Implementation 4. The Politics of ELT Projects in China 5. Teaching Immigrants the Language of the Host Community: Two Object Lessons in the Need for Continuous Policy Development 6. The Commercialisation of Language Provision at University 7. The Role of Micropolitics in Multinational, High-Stakes Language Assessment Systems 8. Challenges and Constraints in Language Test Development 9. The Politics of Examination Reform in Central Europe 10. Language Educational Policies Within a European Framework 11. The Micropolitics of Research and Publication Politics can be an important influence on educational developments and their deployment. This work looks at micropolitics, agendas and motivations of individuals within organisations. Chapters discuss background theory to grasping micropolitics, issues surrounding research and publication of political behaviour by individuals and institutions This volume highlights the importance of micropolitics in shaping language education policy, development and projects. Chapters discuss background theory to understanding micropolitics, issues surrounding the research and publication of political behaviour by individuals and institutions, and more