2024 Idiom editions

2024 Idiom No 1: 'The sustainability of the English teaching profession/al'

The first edition of Idiom for 2024 aims to tell the stories of English teachers about the challenges they’ve faced over the last few years.

Prompted by the VATE research project ‘The sustainability of the English teaching profession/al’, this Idiom presents the stories and experiences of English teachers who have stayed in the profession, those who are on the edge, and those who have left. Through these stories the issue explores: English teaching during COVID-19 lockdowns and their aftermath, responses to curriculum change, the challenge of engaging students as readers, writers and meaning makers, the building of faculty cultures, severe teacher shortages and what it might mean for developing professionally in such an environment. Through these and other challenges, English teachers in Victoria have had to dig deep and extend themselves – sometimes to breaking point. This Idiom explores key findings from the research project and asks:

  • What new practices have English teachers devised to respond to these challenges?
  • How have English teachers collaborated and supported each other?
  • What obstacles are there to English teaching being a sustainable profession?
  • What might need to change to enable this?
     

What do we want
We want to hear from you – the English teaching community. Personal essays and explorations of classroom practice are welcome. We also invite submissions in creative formats such as poetry, screenplay and mixed genres, exploring the themes of the issue. Check the Idiom style guide for more information about contributing to Idiom. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your ideas for a possible contribution.

Submissions due: Monday 15 April 2024. Please email them to Josephine Smith, Managing editor of Idiom: idiom@vate.org.au

2024 Idiom No 2: TBC
 

For general queries about Idiom, and to discuss your possible contribution, please get in touch by emailing Josephine Smith, Managing Editor of Idiom: idiom@vate.org.au.