ABSTRACT
HOW LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE CAN ASSIST WITH THE NATIONAL READING CRISIS
Professor Tanya Serry will present her research and insights into literacy instruction, highlighting how these can be effectively applied to language teaching and learning, particularly when learning another language.
Learning languages plays a vital role in the development of literacy skills. As students engage with a new language, they develop a deeper understanding of how language functions, including grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary. This increased awareness also enhances their understanding of their first language. Students learn to identify patterns, make connections between words, and think more critically about meaning, which in turn strengthens their comprehension, spelling, and written expression. Ultimately, language learning fosters stronger communication skills and supports the development of confident, adaptable readers and writers.
BIO
Professor Tanya Serry works in the School of Education at La Trobe University. She has a background in Speech Pathology and Linguistics. Her research and teaching is focused on language and literacy and learning difficulties among students from the early years through to tertiary students as well as students experiencing social disadvantage. She is particularly interested in systemic change that allows for greater collaboration between educators, parents, speech pathologists and psychologists.
Together with Professor Pamela Snow, she co-founded the Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) Lab. This a platform for their research, teaching, advocacy and community engagement.
At present, Tanya is leading large scale funded research projects exploring the impact of in-school coaching for early years teachers and the processes that lead to successful embedding of structured literacy instruction in schools.