After careers in both law and academic editing, I completed a Masters degree in Applied Linguistics at Monash University.
Although myself an indifferent but persistent lifelong student of French, as a school director I was a keen advocate for language learning.
My Masters research investigated "Classroom learners of Chinese in senior secondary school" through interviews with non-Chinese-background VCE Chinese students. Some results from this project are published in the Australian Review of Applied Linguistics 41(3).
My current PhD research looks at students of Chinese in Australian universities. I aim to record the student profile, including their linguistic backgrounds and experience. This mixed-methods research also looks at student motives for initial and continuing enrolment, and for discontinuation; and at student motivation and how it changes over three years of university study. The initial survey can be accessed at
www.studyingchinese.net
Publications
Keynton, J. (2018). "Classroom learners of Chinese in senior secondary school: The experience of systemic obstacles". Australian Review of Applied Linguistics 41(3): 280.
