The relevance of identity in languages education

Ofsted's 2021 Curriculum Research Review outlines a language pedagogy predicated on an exclusively cognitivist approach to learning, which relies three ‘pillars of progression': phonics, vocabulary and grammar. The review makes brief acknowledgement the importance motivational factors, including ‘pupils' positive views themselves as learners' though these factors do not seem inform its conclusions about what constitutes ‘high-quality languages education'. Tellingly, authors believe that are unrelated perceptions relevance learning in their lives. Addressing issue perception ‘the lives’ is indeed important challenge, literature indicates, yet it difficult see how education can this effectively. In paper, we point growing recognition research key role played by multilingual identity development successful learning. We draw also evidence from our recent AHRC-funded interventional study Year 9 10 pupils (ages 13-15) schools England argue for identity-oriented integral component transformative