Developing narrative research methodology to explore teacher and learner understandings of the English language classroom in multilingual Pakistan

With Dr Ayesha Bashiruddin – an MA AppLing alumnus of Julian’s when he was teaching at Durham, and also a doctoral alumnus of OISE in Toronto where she studied with Michael Connelly of Narrative Inquiry fame – of the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan – I have just submitted a funding bid to the British Academy as follows:

Developing narrative research methodology to explore teacher and learner understandings of the English language classroom in multilingual Pakistan

Abstract: In this project, based on our similar but separate experience, expertise, research agendas and professional contributions, we will collaboratively develop mutuallyenriched and mutually-enriching conceptualisations of: a) context-sensitive approaches for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) in diverse contexts in c21st; b) narrative methodology in educational research; and c) research education course design. Building on this foundation, we will: d) design an overall study to research teacher and learner accounts of their experiences of the English language classroom in Pakistan where English, a former colonial language, now has complex intra-national functions in this multilingual and multicultural state; and e) operationalise the Pilot Study phase of this design. In parallel, we will: f) formulate a post-graduate course in narrative methodology based on the above project outcomes; and g) engage in staff and student development and dissemination activities within and beyond our two institutions.