Some Language-related Observations for Teachers in Torres Strait and Cape York Peninsula Schools

Anna Shnukal

doi:10.1017/S132601110000168X

Authors

Anna Shnukal University of Queensland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1017/S132601110000168X

Abstract

Newly-graduated non-Indigenous teachers who go to remote Torres Strait and Cape York Peninsula (CYP) schools may experience a range of difficulties. This paper makes some observations about one of them: the difficulty of teaching students whose first language is not English and for whom English may well be only one of several languages spoken. Moreover, none of these other languages belongs to the same Indo-European language family as English. The ramifications extend far beyond the intellectual recognition that language, normative modes of thinking and reasoning and social values are interwoven, mutually reinforcing and almost impossible to disentangle.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics( 2002). Http://www.abs.gov.au.

Berry R. and Hudson J. (c. 1997). Making the Jump: A resource book for teachers of Aboriginal students. Broome, W.A.: Catholic Education Office, Kimberley Region.

Cromwell L.G. ( 1980). Barkakmir. to talk with curves: speaking among mainland Torres Strait Islanders. Anthropological Forum 5: 24– 37.

Crowley T. and Rigsby B. ( 1979). Cape York Creole. In Shopen Tim (Ed.), Languages and their Status. Cambridge MA: Winthrop, pp. 153– 207.

Douglas J. 1885– 1886. The islands of Torres Straits. Proceedings of the Queensland Branch of the Geographical Society of Australasia 1: 70– 83.

Haddon A.C. ( 1935). Ethnography. Reports of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits, vol. 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Jensen J. ( 1994). Torres Strait literacy project. Unpublished report held at Thursday Island State High School.

Lawrie M. ( 1970). Myths and Legends of Torres Strait. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press.

Lo Bianco J. ( 1987). National Policy on Languages.

Lo Bianco J., Liddicoat A.J. and Crozet C. (Eds) ( 1999). Striving for the Third Place: Intercultural competence through language education. Melbourne: Language Australia.

Malloch A.J. ( 2000). An exploration of teacher and tutor complementation during an in-class tutorial program for Indigenous students in a primary school. B.Ed (Hons) thesis, School of Education, James Cook University of North Queensland.

Mam S., Elu M., Trevallion I. and Reid A.G. ( 1993). The coconut palm tree - metaphor for Islander family life. Australian Institute of Family Studies - Family Matters 35: 19– 21.

Nakata M. ( 2001). English as the key to progress. Sydney Morning Herald26 April 2001.

Matsumoto H. ( 1983). Metereology and climate. In Ohshima J. (Ed.), Torres Kaigyo no hitobito: people of the Torres Strait 343– 373. Tokyo: Kokon Shoin.

Nietschmann B. ( 1989). Traditional sea territories, resources and rights in Torres Strait. In Cordell J. (Ed.), A Sea of Small Boats. Cambridge: Cultural Survival, Inc., pp. 60– 93.

Osborne B. ( 1991). So you've been appointed to a Torres Strait school: a thumbnail sketch of the socio-historical context of Torres Strait education. The Aboriginal Child at School 19( 5): 19– 28.

Pearson N. ( 2000). Interview in Background briefing, ABC RN, 30 December 2000.

Sharp N. ( 1984). Springs of originality among the Torres Strait Islanders. PhD thesis, Department of Sociology, LaTrobe University..

Sharp N. ( 1993). Stars of Tagai: the Torres Strait Islanders. Canberra: Aboriginal Studies Press.

Shnukal A. ( 1988). Broken: An introduction to the creole language of Torres Strait. Pacific Linguistics, C– 107.

Shnukal A. ( 1996). Language in learning at Thursday Island High School. Australian Journal of Indigenous Education 24( 2): 42– 52.

Shnukal A. ( 2000). Kulkalgal “roads’: Central Torres Strait Islander responses to contact 1870-1920. B.Sc.(Hons) thesis, Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Queensland.

Shnukal Anna . 2001. ‘ Torres Strait Islanders.’ In Brändle M. (Ed.), Multicultural Queensland 2001. Brisbane: Multicultural Affairs Queensland, pp. 21– 35.

Topping R. ( 1984). English as a second language: Thursday Island State High School. TSIMA Newsletter 2, May.

Wierzbicka A. ( 1997). Understanding Cultures through their Key Words: English, Russian, Polish, German, and Japanese. Oxford University Press.

Wilson L. ( 1943). Correspondence to the Premier re Governor's visit to Torres Straits islands, 28 April 1943. Queensland State Archives GOV/93.