Introduction to Literacy in Early Childhood ECE6004

Student Name
INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATION(S)
GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN
EARLY CHILDHOOD
ECE6004

P a g e | 1
Essay discussing current issues/debates/discussions in language and literacy including
English as an additional language
Introduction
Literacy has become a significant aspect within nation development processes as it is
functionally knowledgeable and remains fundamental to every kind of success in curriculums
and people's life. In the international market, being literate is very essential so that people can
participate actively amidst wider societies along with taking part in international activities
like research exchange, business and trade, international conferences and joint research.
Being literate not only contributes to personal or self-development but also leads children and
adolescents towards success in school and life (Rintaningrum, 2009, p. 2). Language, on
the other hand, is a form of arbitrary vocal systems through which a people living in a social
group communicate with one another. Since no two people speak in an exact similar tone,
different communication languages limit mutual intelligibility (Crystal & Robins, 2020).
With regards to it, this essay will discuss the current issue, debates and discussion
surrounding language and literacy including English as an additional language.
In literature, various terms are used to refer to diversified languages and students are
required to utilise them for learning in schools. The varieties seen in languages are mostly
defined as 'academic language', Although few researchers gave it another term. For instance,
some of them referred common language as 'social language' while others referred to it as
'school literacy'. The academic literature is also demonstrated as a set of phrases or words
which describes content knowledge, expresses critical thinking process and create clarity and
cohesion in oral and written discourse (Hewitt-Bradshaw, 2013, p. 1194). Despite how

P a g e | 2
well-grounded and guarded local traditions are, cultural and language identities results in
literacy changes. Therefore, Fernandes & Alsaeed (2014) argues that English has become a
global language as it can be seen in the growing fields of education in Asian countries.
However, lack of knowledge regarding theoretical contexts among English educators can lead
student study about vague depictions among cultural groups. Hence, deciphering
multicultural literacy requires a postcolonial literacy theory that can support the student while
considering issues in Eurocentric illustrations learning. The postcolonial theory was
originally formulated to handle writing and reading different kinds of literature used by
currently or previously colonized nations. Whether from colonizer or colonised perspectives,
post-colonization theory considers about children and their experiences i.e. the sense of
dislocation and disempowerment. In this sense, “Postcolonial theory is built in large part
around the concept of Otherness” (Al-Saidi, 2014, p. 96). This implies post-colonial
literature emphasises upon significance behind studying several aspects of languages as
students will then learn about every unspeakable tone or translated words.
Literacy usually describes reading and writing qualities in various contexts but, in the
21st century, the literacy definitions have changed considerably as it reflects the ability to
adapt to technology from communicating and accumulating information. According to the
International Reading Association, literacies used by today's students are different than their
parents or students belonging to similar fields in previous decades. Therefore, to become
more literate today, the student needs to be proficient in 21st-century technological literacies
as well (Pilgrim & Martinez, 2013, p. 60). Proponents of it also document about how
technology can variously support learning processes in children. For example, digital tools
can make learning curriculums accessible to students having diversified capabilities along
with motivating children to link their academic goals with current online real-world
platforms. Besides developing children's engagement skills with learning, technology literacy