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STRAIGHTEN Basic Skills:

Language and Terminology
28th Jan 2016 SBS Training, Romania
Alex Stevenson
Head of English, Maths and ESOL
alex.stevenson@learningandwork.org.uk
@LWalexs

Language and Terminology: Session Aims

To consider issues in the use of language

and terminology in basic skills, particularly
in the context of pan-European work
To explore and critically consider key
terminology in adult basic skills
To reflect on some of the key terminology
used in the weeks training sessions and
develop a shared understanding of these
concepts

Rationale: Why language and terminology matter

Issues of language and

terminology in the context of
adult literacy were recently
considered within the ELINET
project (
Duncan and Schwab, 2015).

Precision
Respect
About whom are we actually talking?
Different traditions, different expertise
Working across many languages

basic skills

Activity 1: Discussion

To

what extent is the term basic skills ...

precise?
respectful?
clear about who it refers to?
associated with particular traditions /
expertise / views in education?

Translate the term basic skills into

another language and repeat the activity
above. Share your observations with the
group.

Seven Guiding Principles (Schwab and Duncan,

2015)
1. Provides precision appropriate to the
communicative purpose
2. Communicates transparently and simply, as
appropriate to audience, purpose and context
3. Is respectful
4. Is positive (and where possible avoids contributing
to a deficit model)
5. Recognises that people are not at levels, skills are
6. Recognises that a beginner reader (or writer) is
not a beginner thinker
7. Is appropriate to linguistic and cultural context, as
well as to audience and purpose

Activity 2: Group Discussion

Which of the ELINET guiding

principles do you agree with? Which are
the most important and the least
important to you in your work?
Think about how language and
terminology is used in your context to talk
about basic skills. To what extent does it
follow the guiding principles? Give
examples of language that follows the
principles, and language that doesnt.

Activity 3: Language from SBS

Activity 4: Language from the Week

Work in small groups. Each

person selects a word, concept
or other example of
terminology that has been
noticeable for them during the
past week. Share and discuss
your understanding(s) of
these words / concepts. Be
prepared to report back to the