Bayview Beach Resort, Batu Ferringhi Beach, Penang, Malaysia

27-30 September 1999

Facilitating workplace Discourse acquisition: Developing English I materials in a co-operative learning project for Commerce Foundation students using English as an Additional Language at Technikon Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Ms Nicky Sanders

Technikon Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, South Africa

Abstract

The context for this paper is a cooperative learning project in a communication skills course. It highlights key issues around the acquisition of critical literacy amongst Commerce Foundation students who have been educationally disadvantaged and alienated from the Secondary Discourse of Tertiary Learning

The Critical Outcomes in Outcomes Based Education (OBE) formulated recently led to the initiation of a project which incorporates workplace discourse and alternative assessment practices. The materials were underpinned by principles of critical literacy (Garr, Clarence-Fincham, Fairclough, Janks, Kemmis, Luke, Morgan, Street, The New London Group) theory and genre-analysis (Cope, Cranny-Francis, Kalantzis, Kress, Martin) and developed into an interactive study guide.

A critical action research approach was used with a pilot study in 1998 and developed through praxis in1999 to include more textual scaffolding, peer-mediation, and code-switching. The psycho-social and academic development benefits to stydents are outlined. Reflections on both cycles anticipate issues for future use of the materials to better facilitate the acquisition of business discourse.