saskiast


Saskia Van Viegen

Photo of Saskia Van Viegen

Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics

Associate Professor

Office: Ross Building, S562
Phone: 416-736-2100 Ext: 20768
Email: saskiast@yorku.ca

Media Requests Welcome


My work in applied linguistics focuses on bi/multilingualism in education. Specific areas of interest include language assessment, literacy development, and language and content integrated teaching and learning. Drawing on research developed across multiple scales of inquiry in schools, school districts and education systems, I am interested in efforts to revision language education from a multilingual perspective.

Current projects include a SSHRC Insight Grant funded project (2017-2021) examining language and literacy practices of youth from refugee backgrounds, a SSHRC Insight Development Grant funded project (2019-2022) developing multilingual approaches to assessment in education, and a SSHRC Insight Grant funded study (2021-2024) investigating language teaching and learning in multilingual university contexts.

I have also conducted several empirical projects in collaboration with Ontario and British Columbia Ministries of Education to lead educator professional learning and build capacity for system­-level education reform for supporting language teaching and learning, particularly to support children and youth from refugee and immigrant backgrounds.

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Publications from my work appear in several edited books and journals, including: European Journal of Teacher Education, TESOL Quarterly, Language Assessment Quarterly, Canadian Journal of Education, and Canadian Modern Language Review. I am co-editor of the book Plurilingual Pedagogies: Critical and Creative Undertakings for Equitable Language (in) Education (Springer, 2020) and am currently serving as co-editor of the international journal Critical Inquiry in Language Studies.

Degrees

PhD., OISE/University of Toronto
M.A., Western University
B.A. Hons., Western University

Research Interests

Education , Post-Secondary Education and Research, Language Assessment, Literacy, Bi/multilingualism, TESOL

Current Research Projects

Exploring multilingual assessment in the educational context

    Summary:

    This project investigates approaches to multilingual assessment in the secondary educational context in order to address varied teaching and learning needs of bi/multilingual students from immigrant and refugee backgrounds enrolled in Ontario schools. Reflecting the complex, dynamic language practices of bi/multilingual speakers and communities, this approach recognizes the rich linguistic resources of bi/multilingual students, providing them with an opportunity to demonstrate their academic knowledge and literacy skills using the full range of their linguistic repertoire. SSHRC Insight Development Grant.

    See more
    Role: Principal Investigator

    Funders:
    SSHRC Insight Development Grant
Language and Literacy Learning Among Youth Refugees in Canadian Secondary School Classrooms.

    Summary:

    The study addresses three urgent needs: (a) to help education systems and community groups understand how to support youth refugees to catch up to their same-age peers in school as quickly as possible; (b) to support youth refugees, for whom limited prior schooling, limited first language literacy and challenges of academic language learning (compounded by socio-emotional challenges) often present a barrier to learning, social adjustment and academic success; and (c) to develop innovative policies and pedagogical practices that engage with the digital, multimodal literacy practices of today's youth. SSHRC Insight Grant. Joint project with: Maureen Kendrick, UBC (PI); Margaret Early, UBC; Shelley Taylor, Western University.

    See more
    Role: Co-investigtor

    Funders:
    SSHRC Insight Grant
Translingual reading in the post-secondary context.

    Summary:

    Working from a multilingual paradigm, wherein students’ linguistic resources are seen as part of a singular, dynamic and integrated linguistic system, this study examines the reading processes and strategy use of bi/multilingual adolescent readers (ages 17-21 years) at the post-secondary level. Knowledge in this arena is critically important both to support the disciplinary teaching and learning needs of these youth, and to generate theories and models of reading that reflect current understandings of bi/multilingualism as translanguaging/translingual practice. York University LAPS Minor Research Grant.

    See more
    Role: Principal investigator

    Funders:
    York University LAPS Minor Research Grant.
Implementing English language proficiency (ELP) assessment standards in British Columbia Education.

    Summary:

    The BC Ministry of Education has recently developed English Language Learning (ELL) Standards for use in BC Education. This project examines the effectiveness of these standards, identifies language assessment practices among ELL teachers, and promotes effective use of the ELL Standards. Joint project with: Margaret Early, UBC; Valia Spiliotopoulos, UBC.

    See more
    Funders:
    UBC Dept. of Language and Literacy Education Ritsumeikan Seed Grant
Language and Literacy Learning Among Youth Refugees in Canadian Secondary School Classrooms.

    Summary:

    The study addresses three urgent needs: (a) to help education systems and community groups understand how to support youth refugees to catch up to their same-age peers in school as quickly as possible; (b) to support youth refugees, for whom limited prior schooling, limited first language literacy and challenges of academic language learning (compounded by socio-emotional challenges) often present a barrier to learning, social adjustment and academic success; and (c) to develop innovative policies and pedagogical practices that engage with the digital, multimodal literacy practices of today's youth. SSHRC Insight Grant. Joint project with: Maureen Kendrick, UBC (PI); Margaret Early, UBC; Shelley Taylor, Western University.

    See more
    Role: Co-investigator

    Funders:
    SSHRC Insight Grant

Current Courses

Term Course Number Section Title Type
Fall/Winter 2023 AP/TESL3300 6.0 A Practicum in TESOL BLEN
Fall 2023 GS/LAL6295 3.0 A Multilingualism SEMR


Upcoming Courses

Term Course Number Section Title Type
Winter 2024 AP/ESL1015 3.0 O Advancing Oral Communication LGCL
Winter 2024 AP/ESL3020 3.0 M World Englishes BLEN
Fall/Winter 2023 AP/TESL3300 6.0 A Practicum in TESOL BLEN


My work in applied linguistics focuses on bi/multilingualism in education. Specific areas of interest include language assessment, literacy development, and language and content integrated teaching and learning. Drawing on research developed across multiple scales of inquiry in schools, school districts and education systems, I am interested in efforts to revision language education from a multilingual perspective.

Current projects include a SSHRC Insight Grant funded project (2017-2021) examining language and literacy practices of youth from refugee backgrounds, a SSHRC Insight Development Grant funded project (2019-2022) developing multilingual approaches to assessment in education, and a SSHRC Insight Grant funded study (2021-2024) investigating language teaching and learning in multilingual university contexts.

I have also conducted several empirical projects in collaboration with Ontario and British Columbia Ministries of Education to lead educator professional learning and build capacity for system­-level education reform for supporting language teaching and learning, particularly to support children and youth from refugee and immigrant backgrounds.

Publications from my work appear in several edited books and journals, including: European Journal of Teacher Education, TESOL Quarterly, Language Assessment Quarterly, Canadian Journal of Education, and Canadian Modern Language Review. I am co-editor of the book Plurilingual Pedagogies: Critical and Creative Undertakings for Equitable Language (in) Education (Springer, 2020) and am currently serving as co-editor of the international journal Critical Inquiry in Language Studies.

Degrees

PhD., OISE/University of Toronto
M.A., Western University
B.A. Hons., Western University

Research Interests

Education , Post-Secondary Education and Research, Language Assessment, Literacy, Bi/multilingualism, TESOL

Current Research Projects

Exploring multilingual assessment in the educational context

    Summary:

    This project investigates approaches to multilingual assessment in the secondary educational context in order to address varied teaching and learning needs of bi/multilingual students from immigrant and refugee backgrounds enrolled in Ontario schools. Reflecting the complex, dynamic language practices of bi/multilingual speakers and communities, this approach recognizes the rich linguistic resources of bi/multilingual students, providing them with an opportunity to demonstrate their academic knowledge and literacy skills using the full range of their linguistic repertoire. SSHRC Insight Development Grant.

    Project Type: Funded
    Role: Principal Investigator

    Funders:
    SSHRC Insight Development Grant
Language and Literacy Learning Among Youth Refugees in Canadian Secondary School Classrooms.

    Summary:

    The study addresses three urgent needs: (a) to help education systems and community groups understand how to support youth refugees to catch up to their same-age peers in school as quickly as possible; (b) to support youth refugees, for whom limited prior schooling, limited first language literacy and challenges of academic language learning (compounded by socio-emotional challenges) often present a barrier to learning, social adjustment and academic success; and (c) to develop innovative policies and pedagogical practices that engage with the digital, multimodal literacy practices of today's youth. SSHRC Insight Grant. Joint project with: Maureen Kendrick, UBC (PI); Margaret Early, UBC; Shelley Taylor, Western University.

    Project Type: Funded
    Role: Co-investigtor

    Funders:
    SSHRC Insight Grant
Translingual reading in the post-secondary context.

    Summary:

    Working from a multilingual paradigm, wherein students’ linguistic resources are seen as part of a singular, dynamic and integrated linguistic system, this study examines the reading processes and strategy use of bi/multilingual adolescent readers (ages 17-21 years) at the post-secondary level. Knowledge in this arena is critically important both to support the disciplinary teaching and learning needs of these youth, and to generate theories and models of reading that reflect current understandings of bi/multilingualism as translanguaging/translingual practice. York University LAPS Minor Research Grant.

    Project Type: Funded
    Role: Principal investigator

    Funders:
    York University LAPS Minor Research Grant.
Implementing English language proficiency (ELP) assessment standards in British Columbia Education.

    Summary:

    The BC Ministry of Education has recently developed English Language Learning (ELL) Standards for use in BC Education. This project examines the effectiveness of these standards, identifies language assessment practices among ELL teachers, and promotes effective use of the ELL Standards. Joint project with: Margaret Early, UBC; Valia Spiliotopoulos, UBC.

    Project Type: Funded
    Funders:
    UBC Dept. of Language and Literacy Education Ritsumeikan Seed Grant
Language and Literacy Learning Among Youth Refugees in Canadian Secondary School Classrooms.

    Summary:

    The study addresses three urgent needs: (a) to help education systems and community groups understand how to support youth refugees to catch up to their same-age peers in school as quickly as possible; (b) to support youth refugees, for whom limited prior schooling, limited first language literacy and challenges of academic language learning (compounded by socio-emotional challenges) often present a barrier to learning, social adjustment and academic success; and (c) to develop innovative policies and pedagogical practices that engage with the digital, multimodal literacy practices of today's youth. SSHRC Insight Grant. Joint project with: Maureen Kendrick, UBC (PI); Margaret Early, UBC; Shelley Taylor, Western University.

    Project Type: Funded
    Role: Co-investigator

    Funders:
    SSHRC Insight Grant


Current Courses

Term Course Number Section Title Type
Fall/Winter 2023 AP/TESL3300 6.0 A Practicum in TESOL BLEN
Fall 2023 GS/LAL6295 3.0 A Multilingualism SEMR


Upcoming Courses

Term Course Number Section Title Type
Winter 2024 AP/ESL1015 3.0 O Advancing Oral Communication LGCL
Winter 2024 AP/ESL3020 3.0 M World Englishes BLEN
Fall/Winter 2023 AP/TESL3300 6.0 A Practicum in TESOL BLEN