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Languages and Literacies Research Group

The Languages and Literacies Research Group in the Faculty of Education engages in world-class research on the development of theoretical and practical applications to issues in language and literacy learning. Our programme of generative research, high-quality teaching, community and global partnerships positions us as leaders in language, literacy and learning in Australia and beyond.

As a group, we share concerns over the ways in which literacy can impact and empower individuals and communities. Our expertise spans across all age groups, from early years to adulthood, and includes first and second language acquisition and instruction, digital literacies, English as an Additional Language (EAL), community partnerships, creativity and language.

Given the dynamic and complex nature of literacy research, we use a range of research methods in our work. Some of these methods include reflexive inquiry into practice, ethnographies (including institutional ethnography), case study, narrative and dialogic inquiry, discourse analysis/critical discourse analysis, conversational analysis and practitioner inquiry.

Recent projects

Here are some examples of what we are working on.

Early Writing
Associate Professor Janet Scull

"Read like a Demon" program
Ms Kelly Carabott

Exploring students' perceptions and attitudes towards skill development at a university
Dr Anna Podorova

Improving refugee students' access to digital literacies: Integrating Transmedia Storytelling in an EAL (Year 7) classroom
Dr Katrina Tour and Dr Maria Gindidis

Pedagogical reform in doctoral training
Dr Lynette Pretorius

Collegial experiences in early career research
Dr Sue Wilson

Past projects

Here are some examples of the work we've done:

Extended professional learning programs with primary teachers to engage students as confident writers
‘Read Like a Demon’ partnership between Melbourne Football Club (MFC) and Monash University supporting primary students’ reading
Literacy and secondary EAL short courses tailored to specific educator needs
Improving refugee students’ access to digital literacies: integrating transmedia storytelling in EAL classrooms
Vietnam National University/Monash Teacher Education Partnership around research capacity building and proficiency development in English language
teaching
Supporting the development of early literacy programs for Indigenous students in the Kimberley, WA.
Language alternation in bilingual and language programmes
Catering for learning needs of English as an Additional Language students from refugee backgrounds in the Science classroom
Increasing Japanese language use in a whole school bilingual programme in Australia
Investigating policies, international student identity, and EAL and STEM teacher positioning on student language needs in the International Student Programme
Developing recommendations to alleviate international EAL HDR students’ concerns about their children’s English and L1 language needs