(NZALT, New Zealand Association of Language Teachers)
Prof Martin East
Martin East has significantly influenced the pattern and quality of language pedagogy in Aotearoa New Zealand over many years through countless exceptional and outstanding contributions to the field. A revised curriculum for New Zealand’s schools alongside revised national assessments to match new curriculum expectations have led to significant changes for teachers. Both professionally and academically, Martin has played leading roles in supporting and enhancing teachers’ work in these times of change. Pedagogically, languages teachers are encouraged to consider Task-Based Language Teaching as a way of fulfilling revised curriculum requirements. However, this innovation can be challenging for teachers. Martin has dove-tailed his work as a language teacher educator with his publications as a leading scholar in the field to ensure that beginning teachers enter the profession with a solid research-informed understanding of how to enact TBLT. Martin has also supported teachers of te reo Māori through invited workshops about TBLT at Ministry of Education funded national conferences.
As an invited contributor to national assessment renewal, Martin played a significant role in the development of interact – a radical new assessment of students’ speaking skills. The innovation was not universally welcomed. Always keen to question decisions in which he has played a part, Martin researched teachers’ and students’ perspectives on the new assessment, highlighting issues that would require attention moving forward.
Martin has also contributed considerably to the work of NZALT. He was editor of our peer-reviewed journal, The New Zealand Language Teacher, from 2007 to 2016. He has served on NZALT’s Executive since 2012, including four years as President. In this leadership role he was an active interface between languages teachers and government agencies as teachers worked to implement curriculum and assessment reforms. Martin’s significant and sustained contributions to language education make him a worthy recipient of a FIPLV International Award.
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