Abstract
Problem Statement:
The Australian National Broadband Network is being developed nationally, but debate continues about its likely take-‐up. Its potential impact must be maximised, including the enhancement of bi- and multi-lingualism.
Research Questions:
How can the NBN promote (inter)national bilingual networking
and how can that networking enhance second language teaching
and learning in Australia?
Purpose of Study:
The study seeks to develop a conceptual, policy and practice-based framework for using the NBN to expand (inter)national bilingual networking programs in three areas
of Australia. The framework is derived from the authors'
research projects and scholarly literature related to bi- and multi-lingualism and national policy about broadband
provision.
Research Methods:
The paper presents a comparative, exploratory case study,
with the three sites of NBN take-up as contextualised cases. The study integrates multiple forms of data gathering, including policy and documentary interpretation,
conceptual analysis, and empirical evidence from the authors' promotion of multi-cultural and multi-lingual
networking among their doctoral students within and across
their respective universities.
Findings:
The framework distilled from the case study presented here presents an evidence-based and theoretically informed
platform for the development of dynamic and sustainable
bilingual networks with national and international
dimensions. The authors acknowledge several potential
challenges to the application of the framework that encapsulate broader economic, political, socio-cultural
and technical elements of the Australian educational
landscape.
Conclusions:
The framework arising from the study is useful in articulating a scenario for future Australian schooling,
teacher education and community networks related to bi-
and multi-lingualism. This is significant for Australia's
social cohesion and for valuing diverse cultural expressions
and experiences. It is also a timely identification of the
capabilities needed to harness and sustain widely dispersed
broadband technology.