Education

Faculty of Education, Bundoora

Academic Staff Profiles

Dr Howard Nicholas
	Senior Lecturer Director, Centre for Regional Education Bundoora Campus Education 2 Building, Room 514 Phone: +61 3 9479 2744 Fax: +61 3 9479 3070 Email: h.nicholas@latrobe.edu.au

• Qualifications
• Background
• Research Interests
• Publications
• Presentations

QUALIFICATIONS:

BA (Hons), MA, PhD (Monash), Dip Ed (Primary) (SCV).       

BACKGROUND:

Howard Nicholas is Senior Lecturer in Language Education and is based on the Bundoora campus. He has wide research and teaching experience in child and adult second language acquisition (German and English) and in the acquisition of German as a first language. He has worked in Germany on various research projects and has undertaken Visiting Professorships at the University of Hawaii, at Manoa, Concordia University in Montreal and the University of Western Australia. From 1991 to 2007 he was Senior Researcher in the joint Macquarie University-La Trobe University Australian AMEP (Adult Migrant Education Program) Research Centre. Howard is Immediate Past President of the Applied Linguistics Association of Australia

He commenced the role of Director of the Centre for Regional Education within the Faculty of Education in 2008.

In 2007/2008 Howard is Chair of the post-compulsory education working party providing advice to the interdepartmental Victorian Settlement Planning Committee on the educational needs and pathways of refugee youth.

He has been Chair of the Victorian Curriculum and Accreditation Authority's 'Victorian Certificate of Education LOTE Experts Panel' advising on the development of the Curriculum and Standards Framework II and a member of the panel advising on the LOTE design for VELS. He has also been VCE Convenor for the area of Languages Other Than English for the VCAA.

His research interests span the natural and instructed development of languages other than English and English as a second language. He has been particularly involved in the establishment of programs in primary schools for languages other than English. He has researched both first and second language acquisition in children and adults and worked with and conducted research into both 'language arts' and 'bilingual education' programs in a wide range of languages. In 1993 the report that he had coordinated of the National Enquiry into the Employment and Supply of Teachers of Languages Other Than English (Languages at the Crossroads) was published by the National Languages and Literacy Institute of Australia.

In his recent work, he has also been researching various uses of ICT in education with a focus on its role in supporting and revealing concept development in various areas of the curriculum. A particular focus has been the use of handheld computers in classrooms and the implications of this use for the concept of ubiquitous learning.

Howard has supervised students undertaking research on child and adult language learning, language curriculum development, language testing and various aspects of bilingualism and bilingual education. His students have worked on diverse aspects of policy and practice in higher education.

His interests span the natural and instructed development of languages other than English and English as a second language. He has been particularly involved in the establishment of programs in primary schools for languages other than English. He has researched both first and second language acquisition in children and adults and worked with and conducted research into both 'language arts' and 'bilingual education' programs in a wide range of languages. In 1993 the report which he had coordinated of the National Enquiry into the Employment and Supply of Teachers of Languages Other Than English (Languages at the Crossroads) was published by the National Languages and Literacy Institute of Australia. He is the Chair of the Victorian Curriculum and Accreditation Authority's 'Victorian Certificate of Education LOTE Experts Panel' and VCE Convenor for the area of Languages Other Than English for the VCAA. In his recent work, he has begun to look at various uses of ICT in education with a focus on its role in supporting and revealing concept development in various areas of the curriculum.

Howard has supervised students undertaking research on child and adult language learning, language curriculum development, language testing and various aspects of bilingualism and bilingual education.

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PUBLICATIONS: (Since 2000)

Book Chapters

Nicholas, H. & P. Lightbown. (in press) Defining child second language acquisition, defining roles for instruction. In J. Philp, R. Oliver & A. Mackey (eds) Child’s play? Second language acquisition and the younger learner. Amsterdam, John Benjamins.

Nicholas, H. & W. Ng. (under review) Ubiquitous learning and handhelds: An overview of theory and pedagogy. Submitted to Encyclopedia for online and distance learning. US: IGI Global Publishers.

Yates, L., H. Nicholas and M. de Courcy (under review) Social and cognitive influences on the English language development of three age groups of Iraqi refugees. In R. Batstone, R. Ellis and E. Tarone (eds.) Sociocognitive Aspects of Second Language Learning and Teaching.

Kim, M. & H. Nicholas. (2004) Features of negation (mos) in a Korean bilingual child: a longitudinal study. In Kuno, S. et al (eds) Harvard Studies in Korean Linguistics X. Hanshin Publishing Company, Kyounggi-Do: 144 - 158.

Nicholas, H. & W. Ng. (2004) Probing preconceptions to create new concepts while learning science through English. Proceedings of the Seminar on Best Practices and Innovations in the Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics at the Secondary School Level. Malaysia, July 2004. p.236-258. Also published at the US Knowledge Bank website.

Ng, W. & H. Nicholas (2004) Promoting higher order thinking skills and creativity in science learning through drama and ICT. Proceedings of the Seminar on Best Practices and Innovations in the Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics at the Secondary School level, Malaysia, July 2004; p.305-328. Also published at the US Knowledge Bank website.

Nicholas, H. & A. Williams. (2003) Oracy is more than the absence of literacy: changing learner groups in ESL classrooms in highly literate societies. In Wigglesworth, G. (Ed.). The kaleidoscope of adult second language learning: Learner, teacher and researcher perspectives (pp. 29-52). Sydney: NCELTR.

Nicholas, H. & G. Wigglesworth. (2003) Second language development: extending, elaborating and refining English speech. In Wigglesworth, G. (Ed). The kaleidoscope of adult second language learning: Learner, teacher and researcher perspectives (pp.135 – 181). Sydney: NCELTR.

Wigglesworth, G. & H. Nicholas. (2003) Reflections on the patterns from the kaleidoscope. In Wigglesworth, G. (Ed). The kaleidoscope of adult second language learning: Learner, teacher and researcher perspectives (pp.291-298). Sydney: NCELTR.

Nicholas, H. (2001) Comparing developments in oral and written English in the lower primary school. In C. Davison & A Williams (eds) Learning from each other: literacy, labels and limitations: studies of English language and literacy development. Vol.2. Melbourne, Language Australia Ltd: 81-91.

Journal articles

Yang, Y. & H. Nicholas (2008) A review of ‘interest in the learning of English’ in the Chinese context. Asian EFL Journal (to appear, September, 2008)

Ng, W. and H. Nicholas. (2007) Conceptualising the use of online technologies for gifted secondary students. Roeper Review 29/3: 190-196.

Keamy, K. and H. Nicholas. (2007) Personalised learning: can governments guarantee diversity for individuals? The International Journal of Diversity in Organisations, Communities and Nations 7: 137-146.

Nicholas, H. (2004). Looking backwards and sideways in order to go forward: a role for languages in shaping Australia's future. Babel 39/2: 8-14, 38.

Nicholas, H., P. Lightbown and N. Spada. (2001). Recasts as feedback to language learners. Language Learning 51/4: 719 - 758.

Nicholas, H. (2001). Languages as curriculum. Languages Victoria 5/4: 7-14.

Nicholas, H. (2000). Is there progress in standards? Australian Review of Applied Linguistics 23/2: 79-88.

Other

Keamy, K., H. Nicholas, S. Mahar & C. Herrick. (2007) Personalising education: from research to policy and practice. Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Office for Education Policy and Innovation, Paper No. 11, September, 2007. http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/publ/research/publ/personalising-education-report.pdf

Ng, W. & H. Nicholas. (2007) Ubiquitous learning with handheld computers in schools. mLearn 2007, October 16-19, 2007; Melbourne Australia (pp. 180-186): http://www.mlearn2007.org/files/mLearn_2007_Conference_Proceedings.pdf

Nicholas, H. & W. Ng (2007) PDAs in the real world of classrooms – what is needed to help learners think? 2nd International Conference on Interactive Mobile and Computer Aided Learning. April 18-20, 2007; Amman, Jordan

Williams, A., H. Nicholas, R. Beaton, S. Walters-Quan and I. Bhatti. (2007) Responding to learning needs: incorporating language proficiency in ESL index funding. A report prepared for the School Resource Allocation Branch, Victorian Department of Education and Training.

Ng, W. and H. Nicholas (2007) Pocket PCs for mGeneration learners. A report prepared for the mGeneration learners consortium.

Hanewald, R., L. Holliday and H. Nicholas (2006) Sustainability of global interchange across tertiary institutions: listening to the other. Proceedings of the 10th APEID International Conference, Learning together for tomorrow: education for sustainable development. Bangkok, 6 – 8 December, 2006: http://www.unescobkk.org/index.php?id=5510

Earp, K., Everitt, C., Nicholas, H. & Deblaquiere, J. (2006) Job-focused learning at Certificate 1 level. Teaching strategies Fact Sheet 2. AMEP Research Centre.

Williams, A., & Nicholas, H. (2006) Responding to younger learners with minimal or no schooling. Teaching issues Fact Sheet 6. AMEP Research Centre.

Ng, W., H. Nicholas and P. Wright (2006) Higher order thinking skills. A report prepared for St Helena Secondary College.

Keamy, K. & Nicholas, H. (2006). Learning is always personal - but it shouldn't be left to the individual. A review of the concept of personalised learning. A report prepared for the Research and Development Branch of the (Victorian) Department of Education and Training.

Jane, G., B. Griffiths, J. Russell and H. Nicholas (2005) Review of the implementation and outcomes of the designated bilingual programs in primary and secondary schools: final report. Prepared for the (Victorian) Department of Education and Training.

Williams, A. & H. Nicholas. (2005). Fact sheet – Responding to younger learners with minimal or no schooling. AMEP Research Centre. http://www.ameprc.mq.edu.au/pdamep/factsheets.html

Williams, A., Yates, L. & Nicholas, H. interviewed by Deasey, S. (2003). Beside the Whiteboard. Fine print, 26, 38-40.

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PRESENTATIONS:

Keynote or invited speaker

Ng, W. & H. Nicholas (2007, October 27) Handheld computing integrates multiliteracies. Invited presentation to the Australian Literacy Educators Association (Victoria), Annual Conference. Melbourne, October 26-27.

Nicholas, H. (2007, September 3) The complex mix of social and cognitive influences in the course of English language development among three age groups of Iraqi refugees. Invited presentation to the Department of Foreign Languages, East China Normal University, Shanghai.

Nicholas, H. (2007, July 13) Transforming convenient assumptions: challenging curriculum through languages. Keith Horwood Memorial Address to the Australian Federation of Modern Languages Teachers Associations Conference. Perth, July 11-14.

Nicholas, H. (2007, March 9) Present perspective - review of current best practice. Invited address, Victorian Bilingual Education: Past, present and future perspectives, Bayswater South Primary School, March 9, 2007.

Nicholas, H. (2006, November 18) Some principles for embedded bilingual education (for everyone). Invited Keynote address to the ‘Making a world of difference LOTE conference, Bendigo, 17-18.11.06.

Nicholas, H. (2006, September 1) Celebration of bilingual programs. Invited address to the Victorian Department of Education and Training Workshop for leaders in bilingual programs, Melbourne.

Nicholas, H. (2006, July 6) Embedded or extraneous bilingualism. Paper presented at the invited colloquium: Australian research into education for additive bilingualism, Applied Linguistics Association of Australia conference, Brisbane, 5-8 July, 2006.

Nicholas, H. (2006, July 5) Some interactionist accounts of SLA: a discussion of selected pedagogic interventions. Discussant in the invited colloquium “Interactionist accounts of SLA”; Asia Pacific Second Language Research Forum, Brisbane; 4-6 July, 2006.

Nicholas, H. (2006, May 10) Bilingualism: definitions, possibilities and pitfalls for Vietnam. TESOL Association of Ho Chi Minh City.

Nicholas, H. (2005, May 13) LOTEs of room to move: momentum for the future. Victorian Association of Teachers of Italian.

Liddicoat, T. & H. Nicholas (2004, July 15) Applying applied linguistics. Applied Linguistics Association of Australia National Conference, Adelaide, July 15 – 17, 2004.

Nicholas, H. (2003, April 12) Your students have something to say: connecting and communicating through languages. Victorian School of Languages State Conference, University of Melbourne, Australia.

Nicholas, H. (2003, July 25). Where to now? Speculations on the future of languages in Victoria. Keynote address to the Central Highlands Wimmera LOTE Conference, Ballarat, Australia.

Nicholas, H. (2003, August 9) Manifesting the world in the classroom: language acquisition and community. Keynote address to ‘Comunidad e identidad: classroom-community connections’, Annual State Conference for Teachers of Spanish, Adelaide, Australia.

Nicholas, H. (2003, September 20) Looking backwards and sideways in order to go forward: a role for languages in shaping Australia’s future. Keynote address to: Languages: learning for the future, Adelaide, Australia.

Nicholas, H. (2003, September 19) Processes of English second language development in adult migrants to Australia. Invited Public Lecture, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.

Nicholas, H. (2003, September 11) Languages: planning for the future. Keynote address to National Conference of Principals of Schools of Languages, Melbourne, Australia.

Nicholas, H. (2002, November 8) Deutsch auf der Höhe - selbstständig und teamfähig. Keynote Address to the Association of German Teachers of Victoria Annual Conference, Merrijig, Victoria.

Nicholas, H. (2002, October 28) Living and learning through language(s). Plenary paper for Victorian Department of Education and Training State Conference on Languages Other Than English: ‘Languages for life’, Melbourne.

Nicholas, H. (2002, July 13) Relating cognitive and cultural dimensions of second language acquisition: (how) do they influence one another? Plenary address to the Annual Congress of the Applied Linguistics Association of Australia, Macquarie University, Sydney.

Nicholas, H. (2002, May 2) Languages, cultures, curriculum, 2001 and beyond. Keynote address to the Victorian Indonesian Language Teachers' Association Annual Conference, Melbourne.

Nicholas, H. and A. Williams (2001, November 17) Meeting the challenge: Responding to changing learner groups in the AMEP. Keynote address to the AMEP Research Centre National Conference, Adelaide.

Other Presentations

Ng, W. & H. Nicholas (2007, October 18) Ubiquitous learning with handheld computers in schools. Presentation to mLearn 2007 Melbourne, October 16-19, 2007.

Nicholas, H. (2007, October 5) Pre-CSWE learning. Paper presented to the AMEP Conference, Mooloolaba, Queensland October 4-6, 2007.

Nicholas, H. (2007, September 13) Snapshots of low education/low literacy adult ESL learners in Australia. Paper presented to the Low Educated Second Language and Literacy Acquisition (by Adults) Colloquium, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, 13-15 September, 2007.

Nicholas, H. (2007, September 15) Current modes of provision for LESLLA students in Australia. Presentation as part of the ‘Australian panel’ to the Low Educated Second Language and Literacy Acquisition (by Adults) Colloquium, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, 13-15 September, 2007.

Nicholas, H. (2007, May 18) Breaking down the barriers. Presentation to the AMEP National Forum ‘Learners in transition’, Adelaide, May 17 & 18, 2007.

Nicholas, H. & W. Ng (2007, April 19) PDAs in the real world of classrooms: what is needed to help learners think? Paper presented to the 2nd International Conference on Interactive, Mobile and Computer Aided Learning. Princess Sumaya University for Technology; Amman, Jordan: 18-20 April, 2007.

Ng, W., H. Nicholas & A. Williams (2007, April 10) Student teachers' evolving beliefs about teaching during secondary preservice teacher education in Australia. Paper presented to the American Educational Research Association Conference, Chicago, 9-13 April, 2007.

Yates, L., M. de Courcy & H. Nicholas (2007, April 13) The complex mix of social and cognitive influences in the course of English language development among three age groups of Iraqi refugees. Paper presented to the Social and Cognitive Aspects of Second Language Learning and Teaching Conference, Auckland, New Zealand 12-14 April 2007.

Hanewald, R., H. Nicholas and L. Holliday (2006, December 7) Sustainability of global interchange across tertiary institutions: listening to the other. Paper presented to the 10th APEID International Conference, Bangkok, 6-8 December, 2006.

Nicholas, H.(2006, November 17) Tensions between ‘learning to read’ and ‘reading to earn’: dilemma for AMEP learners in moving on from surviving without literacy. Paper presented to the AME RC Forum, Hobart 16-17 November, 2006.

Ng, W. H. Nicholas and A. Williams (2006, October 13) Student experiences of the secondary graduate diploma in education course. La Trobe University, School of Educational Studies Research Seminar Series.

Nicholas, H. and H. Moore (2006, October 7) Working effectively with youth in the AMEP. Paper presented to the Cultures of Learning, National AMEP conference, Perth, 5-7.10.06.

Keamy, K. & H. Nicholas (2006, September) Personalised learning – what is it, where did it come from and what are its implications? La Trobe University, School of Educational Studies Research Seminar Series.

L. Yates, L., H. Nicholas & M. de Courcy (2006, July 4) Identity, community and English language development among three age groups of Iraqi refugees. Paper presented to the Asia Pacific Second Language Research Forum, Brisbane; 4-6 July, 2006.

Nicholas, H. (2006, March 24) PDAs and primary classrooms. La Trobe University, School of Educational Studies Research Seminar Series.

Nicholas, H. (2005, November 8) Intercultural knowledge and language awareness - VELS and Italian. Victorian Association of Teachers of Italian, Melbourne, Australia.

Xiong, W. & H. Nicholas. (2004, October 1) Formulaic language and SLA processability’. Seminar on Processability. SLA and bilingual first language acquisition, University of Western Sydney, October 1, 2004.

Ng, W. & H. Nicholas (2004, July 21) Promoting higher order thinking skills and creativity in science learning through drama and ICT APEC Regional Seminar on Innovations in Science and Mathematics Teaching, Penang, Malaysia, July 19 – 22, 2004.

Nicholas, H. & W. Ng (2004, July 20) Probing preconceptions to create new concepts while learning science through English. APEC Regional Seminar on Innovations in Science and Mathematics Teaching, Penang, Malaysia, July 19 – 22, 2004.

de Courcy, M., L. Yates & H. Nicholas (2004, July 16) The cognitive and the social in the second language use/development of English by Iraqi Arabic speakers in a regional centre in Victoria. Applied Linguistics Association of Australia National Conference, Adelaide, July 15 – 17, 2004.

Nicholas, H., H. Mulvaney, C. Everitt & K. Earp (2004, July 10) Extending repertoires: Australian working life workshop. AMEP Research Centre National Conference, Darwin, 8 – 11 July, 2004.

Nicholas, H. (2004, June 20) Quantity and quality in research methods. Graduate research seminar, La Trobe University School of Educational Studies.

Yates, L., H. Nicholas & M. de Courcy (2004, May 3) Iraqi families learning English: social and cognitive factors. American Association of Applied Linguistics, Portland, Oregon 1 – 4 May, 2004.

Nicholas, H., (2003, August 21) Teaching in the target language. A professional development seminar for teachers, Association of Independent Schools of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia.

Nicholas, H. & Ng, W. (2003, December 2-4) Using English in the teaching of science. Paper presented to the ELTC EteMS Conference 2003, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Nicholas H., Yates, L. & de Courcy, M. (2003, July 12-14) English language development and cultural adjustment across generations of Arabic speaking (Iraqi) learners in a regional community. Paper presented to Applied Linguistics Association of Australia Annual Conference, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.

Nicholas, H., Wigglesworth, G. (2003, July 12-14). Commonalities and differences in second* language learning in recent arrivals in the Adult Migrant English Program. Paper presented to Applied Linguistics Association of Australia Annual Conference, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.

Nicholas, H. & Wigglesworth, G. (2003, November 9-11) Exploring second language learning in recent arrivals in the Adult Migrant English Program. Paper presented to AMEP National Conference, Gold Coast.

Nicholas, H. Wigglesworth, G., Williams, A. & Yates, L. (2003, May 22-23). What did the project teach us about managing and responding to change in client groups? Presentation to National AMEP Forum, Melbourne, Australia.

Nicholas, H. & Yates, L. (2003, May 21-22). Spoken English as a curriculum planning issue. Presentation to national AMEP Forum, Melbourne, Australia.

Nicholas, H. and Yates, L. (2003, May 21-22). The construction of gender in new client groups. Presentation to National AMEP Forum, Melbourne, Australia.

Yates, L., Springall, J., Devi, S. & Nicholas, H. (2003, November, 7-9). Extending repertoires of practice: building on the Changing patterns of Clients Projects. Concurrent session delivered to AMEP National Conference, Gold Coast, Australia.

12.3.02: “Issues in considering the LOTE Analysis paper.” Paper presented to the Association of German Teachers of Victoria language policy forum, Goethe Institut, Melbourne.

19.7.02 "Second or bilingual language acquisition in the very young?: Panel presentation for a symposium on the development of the weaker language in bilingual first language acquisition.” International Congress for the Study of Child Language, Madison, Wisconsin.

19.8.02 “Teaching in the target language.” Seminar for the Association of Independent Schools of Victoria, Melbourne.

31.10.02 “The Changing Patterns of AMEP Clientele Project.” Paper presented to the Victorian Adult Multicultural Education Services Education Curriculum Conference, Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne (with Gillian Wigglesworth, Alan Williams, Lynda Yates).

16.11.02 “Changing patterns of AMEP client groups.” Paper presented at the AMEP Research Centre National Conference, Canberra.

17.12.02 “The acquisition of English as a second language by adults from Iraq, the Horn of Africa and the PRC.” Paper presented to the International Association of Applied Linguistics Congress, Singapore.

1.2.01: Interaction and second language development. La Trobe University Institute for Education Research Seminar.

19.6.01: Interactive styles and oral cultures. Paper presented to AMEP Research Centre National Forum, AMES, Melbourne.

8.7.01: Relating the cognitive and the social in SLA research, Paper presented to Applied Linguistics Association of Australia National Conference. University of Canberra/Australian National University.

18.7.01: Inter/intracultural pragmatics and heritage language programs. Paper presented to Heritage Language Education Research Symposium, Victoria University, Melbourne.

21.7.01: Teacher education for heritage languages. Paper presented to Community Languages Conference, Victoria University, Melbourne.

26.7.01: Bilingualism and second language literacy learning. Keynote address to the Department of Education, Employment and Training Western Region Seminar for Teachers of Languages Other Than English, Ballarat, Victoria.

26.10.01: Interactive styles and oral cultures. Paper presented to the AMES Victorian State Conference, Holmesglen College of TAFE, Chadstone.

12.11.01: (with Lynda Yates) ESL learning by people from Iraq and Somalia. Paper presented to the Victorian Department of Education, Employment and Training ESL Conference, Melbourne.

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