The research group of the University of Patras (UOP)
As members of the UOP group, we focus our research on elementary school students of the 5th and 6th grade (11-12 years old). We aim to explore students’ preferences in mass culture texts, which will be used for the development of teaching material helping students to cultivate their critical language awareness.
First, via quantitative methodology (i.e. questionnaires), we map their favorite mass culture genres and explore whether social parameters such as gender, ethnic and social background, and school performance in Language Arts influence such preferences. We also examine whether and to what degree the current Greek elementary school teaching material takes into consideration, and makes use of, students’ preferences and everyday experiences with mass culture texts.
Then, by adopting the theoretical framework of critical discourse analysis, we investigate the ways linguistic variation is represented in students’ favorite TV mass culture texts and the extent to which dominant language ideologies are reproduced through this representation. Our analysis shows that the discourse of mass culture usually projects the alignment with linguistic homogeneity as expected linguistic behavior.
In addition to the critical analysis of the data, we are interested in students’ perceptions of linguistic variation in mass culture texts. More specifically, we examine whether students are aware of the different aspects of linguistic variation as well as whether their perceptions of linguistic variation are influenced by parameters such as social milieu of the area where their school is located, their parents’ educational background, their own performance in Language Arts, their ethnic origin, gender and age. The statistical analysis performed shows that the vast majority of the students of our sample expect linguistic variation to be used according to the communicative setting and the social characteristics of each speaker.
Taking into account both researchers’ critical analysis and students’ perspective, we will then proceed with the development of sample learning material based on TV mass culture texts. This material is intended to raise student language awareness and to develop their critical literacy skills by enabling them to identify and reflect on the represented inequality among linguistic varieties. The learning activities developed will be implemented in class and assessed by the students and their teachers.
Members of the UOP group
Argiris Archakis, Professor in the University of Patras (Principal Investigator)
Anna Fterniati, Associate Professor in the University of Patras
Dimitris Papazachariou, Associate Professor in the University of Patras
Villy Tsakona, Assistant Professor in the Democritus University of Thrace
Sofia Lampropoulou, Assistant Professor in the University of Liverpool (Invited Researcher)
Vasia Tsami, PhD student in the University of Patras
As members of the UOP group, we focus our research on elementary school students of the 5th and 6th grade (11-12 years old). We aim to explore students’ preferences in mass culture texts, which will be used for the development of teaching material helping students to cultivate their critical language awareness.
First, via quantitative methodology (i.e. questionnaires), we map their favorite mass culture genres and explore whether social parameters such as gender, ethnic and social background, and school performance in Language Arts influence such preferences. We also examine whether and to what degree the current Greek elementary school teaching material takes into consideration, and makes use of, students’ preferences and everyday experiences with mass culture texts.
Then, by adopting the theoretical framework of critical discourse analysis, we investigate the ways linguistic variation is represented in students’ favorite TV mass culture texts and the extent to which dominant language ideologies are reproduced through this representation. Our analysis shows that the discourse of mass culture usually projects the alignment with linguistic homogeneity as expected linguistic behavior.
In addition to the critical analysis of the data, we are interested in students’ perceptions of linguistic variation in mass culture texts. More specifically, we examine whether students are aware of the different aspects of linguistic variation as well as whether their perceptions of linguistic variation are influenced by parameters such as social milieu of the area where their school is located, their parents’ educational background, their own performance in Language Arts, their ethnic origin, gender and age. The statistical analysis performed shows that the vast majority of the students of our sample expect linguistic variation to be used according to the communicative setting and the social characteristics of each speaker.
Taking into account both researchers’ critical analysis and students’ perspective, we will then proceed with the development of sample learning material based on TV mass culture texts. This material is intended to raise student language awareness and to develop their critical literacy skills by enabling them to identify and reflect on the represented inequality among linguistic varieties. The learning activities developed will be implemented in class and assessed by the students and their teachers.
Members of the UOP group
Argiris Archakis, Professor in the University of Patras (Principal Investigator)
Anna Fterniati, Associate Professor in the University of Patras
Dimitris Papazachariou, Associate Professor in the University of Patras
Villy Tsakona, Assistant Professor in the Democritus University of Thrace
Sofia Lampropoulou, Assistant Professor in the University of Liverpool (Invited Researcher)
Vasia Tsami, PhD student in the University of Patras