Skip to content

Faculty of Education and Language Studies > People Profiles > Janet Maybin

Janet Maybin

Senior Lecturer in Education

The Open University Faculty of Education and Language Studies Centre for Language and Communication


Profile

Originally trained as a social anthropologist, I am a Senior Lecturer in Language and Communication. I have written extensively for Open University courses on language, literacy and learning and also research and write on children and adults' informal language and literacy practices.

  

Teaching Interests

Recent courses

E852 MA Module Language, Literacy and Learning in the Contemporary World, EA300 Children's Literature, E301 The Art of English, E844 Language and Literacy in a changing world, U212 Childhood.

Postgraduate Supervision 

Current supervision:

Sarah Mukherjee The articulate child: an investigation into functional oral awareness of children at 4-5 years and the contribution of role play in its development PhD

Karen Pollock How can adult reframing of questions support bilingual children’s L2 reading comprehension? EdD 2nd supervisor

Altaf Malik Academic Writing, Learning Styles, and Attitudes of EFL Students in a CMC Environment. EdD 2nd supervisor

Angela Smith The experience of Scottish Further Education students for whom English has not been the language of previous education. EdD 2nd supervisor

Selection of completed doctorates

Annie McSeveney Telling tales together: a study of children’s collaborative storytelling EdD

Genevoix Nana Children, their schools and what they learn on beginning primary school: a study of the English and French educational legacies in Anglophone and Francophone schools in Cameroon. PhD

Rachel Robinson How are Professional Conversations co-constructed in Postgraduate Medical Teacher Education? What makes them educationally effective? EdD

Luis Filipe Simas Talk and learning: examining the effectiveness of teacher talk in an ESL classroom. EdD

Ellayne Fowler An investigation of email as a situated literacy practice in a further education college. EdD

Suzanne Nance Children as literacy teachers: a study of the situated, literacy practices of 'buddy pairs' at primary school and the same older children at home with younger siblings. EdD

Catherine Kell Everyday contexts for literacy acquisition: pedagogical and policy implications of an ideological model of literacy. PhD
 

 

 

 

 


 

Research Interests

I am a founder member of the OU Centre for Language and Communications, and of the UK Linguistic Ethnography Forum. My research interests focus on the role of language in learning, pursuing relationships and negotiating identity. I combine ethnography and discourse analysis in projects researching talk and learning in the classroom, children's construction of knowledge and identity through informal language practices and prisoners' letter writing.

Current Research

 

Children’s Voicing. Continuing research on learning and knowledge construction in older children’s informal language practices using corpus of data collected 1990s and a second comparative corpus collected 2009. Publications on informal learning, creativity, gender, narrative, intertextuality and induction into schooling. 

Publications

Authored Book
Maybin, Janet (2006). Children's voices: talk, knowledge and identity. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.
Goodman, Sharon; Lillis, Theresa; Maybin, Janet and Mercer, Neil (2003). Language, literacy and education: A reader. Stoke on Trent, UK: Trentham Books in association with The Open University.
Book Chapter
Maybin, Janet (2013). Evaluation in pre-teenagers’ informal language practices around texts from popular culture. In: Cekaite , A.; Blum-Kulka, S.; Aukrust , V. and Teuba, E. eds. Children’s peer talk and peer learning in first and second language. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Cremin, Teresa and Maybin, Janet (2012). Children and teachers' creativity in and through language. In: Hall, Kathy; Cremin, Teresa; Comber, Barbara and Moll, Luis eds. The Wiley Blackwell International Handbook of Research on Children's Literacy, Learning and Culture. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell, (In press).
Maybin, Janet (2011). Intimate strangers: dialogue and creativity in penfriend correspondence. In: Swann, Joan; Pope, Rob and Carter, Ronald eds. Creativity, Language, Literature: the state of the art. Basingstoke, Hants: Palgrave Macmillan , pp. 129–140.
Maybin, Janet and Tusting, Karin (2011). Linguistic ethnography. In: Simpson, James ed. Routledge Handbook of Applied Linguistics. Routledge Handbooks in Applied Linguistics. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 515–528.
Maybin, Janet (2009). Airhostess legs and jealous husbands: explorations of gender and heterosexuality in 10-11 year-olds’ conversations. In: Pichler, Pia and Eppler, Eva M. eds. Gender and Spoken Interaction. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 42–62.
Swann, J. and Maybin, J. (2008). Sociolinguistic and ethnographic approaches to language and gender. In: Harrington, K.; Litosseliti, L.; Saunston, H. and Sunderland, J. eds. Gender and Language Research Methodologies. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.
Maybin, Janet (2008). Revoicing across learning spaces. In: Hornberger, Nancy H. ed. Encyclopedia of Language and Education, Vol.3. Springer, pp. 81–92.
Maybin, Janet (2007). Everyday talk (2nd Edition). In: Maybin, Janet; Mercer, Neil and Hewings, Ann eds. Using English. London: Routledge, pp. 5–42.
Maybin, Janet and Baynham, Mike (2006). Literacy Practices in English. In: Maybin, Janet; Mercer, Neil and Hewings, Ann eds. Using English (2nd Edition). London: Routledge, pp. 123–166.
Maybin, Janet (2006). Language and education. In: Llamas, Carmen; Mullany, Louise and Stockwell, Peter eds. The Routledge Companion to Sociolinguistics. Routledge Companions. London: Routledge, pp. 157–163.
Maybin, Janet (2006). Sociolinguistics and education. In: Llamas, Carmen; Mullany, Louise and Stockwell, Peter eds. Companion to Sociolinguistics. London: Routledge, pp. 157–163.
Maybin, Janet (2006). Writing the self. In: Maybin, Janet and Swann, Joan eds. The Art of English: Everyday Creativity. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 261–276.
Maybin, Janet (2006). Locating creativity in texts and practices. In: Maybin, Janet and Swann, Joan eds. The Art of English: Everyday Creativity. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 413–455.
Maybin, J. and Pearce, M. (2006). Literature and creativity in English. In: Goodman, Sharon and O'Halloran, Kieran eds. The Art of English: Literary Creativity. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 3–48.
Maybin, Janet (2005). Researching children's language and literacy practices in school. In: Goodwyn, Andrew and Stables, Andrew W. eds. Learning to Read Critically in Language and Literacy. Learning to Read Critically Series. London: Sage Publications, pp. 86–106.
Maybin, Janet (2004). Researching children’s language and literacy practices in school. In: Goodwyn, Andrew and Staples, Andrew W. eds. Learning to read critically in language and literacy education. Learning to read critically. London, UK: Sage, pp. 86–106.
Maybin, Janet (2004). Reported speech and intertextual referencing in 10- to 12-year-old students' informal talk. In: Shuart-Faris, Nora and Bloome, David eds. Uses of intertextuality in classroom and educational research. Connecticut, USA: Information Age Publishing Inc, pp. 147–169.
Maybin, Janet (2004). Intertextuality and reported speech in 10-12 year olds' informal talk. In: Shuart-Faris, Nora and Bloome, David eds. The Uses of Intertextuality in Classrooom and Educational Research. Connecticut: Information Age Publishing, pp. 147–169.
Woodhead, Martin and Maybin, Janet (2003). Socializing children. In: Woodhead, Martin and Maybin, Janet eds. Childhoods in Context. Chichester: Wiley.
Maybin, Janet (2003). Voices, intertextuality and induction into schooling. In: Goodman, Sharon; Lillis, Theresa; Maybin, Janet and Mercer, Neil eds. Language, Literacy and Education: A Reader. London: Trentham, pp. 159–170.
Maybin, Janet (2003). Language, relationships and identities. In: Kehily, Mary and Swann, Joan eds. Childrens' Cultural Worlds. Chichester: John Wiley, pp. 89–132.
Maybin, Janet and Woodhead, Martin (2003). Socialising children. In: Maybin, Janet and Woodhead, Martin eds. Childhoods in Context. Chichester: John Wiley, pp. 1–38.
Maybin, Janet (2002). Voices, morals and identity in 10-12 year olds’ conversational narratives. In: Sanchez, M. and Blayer, I. eds. Storytelling: interdisciplinary and intercultural perspectives. New York, USA: Peter Lang Publishing.
Maybin, Janet (2002). What’s the hottest part of the Sun? Page3! Children’s exploration of adolescent gender identities through informal talk. In: Litosseliti, Lia and Sunderland, Jane eds. Gender Identity and Discourse Analysis. Discourse Approaches to Politics, Society and Culture 2. Benjamins, pp. 257–273.
Maybin, Janet (2002). Voices, morals, and identity in the conversational narratives of ten-to-twelve-years-olds. In: Blayer, Irene Maria F. and Sanchez, Monica eds. Storytelling: Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Perspectives. New York: Peter Lang Publishing, pp. 130–144.
Maybin, Janet (2002). "What’s the hottest part of the sun? Page 3!" Children’s exploration of adolescent gender identities through informal talk. In: Litosseliti, Lia and Sunderland, Jane eds. Gender Identity and Discourse Analysis. Discourse Approaches to Politics, Society and Culture (2). Amsterdam: John Benjamins, pp. 257–273.
Maybin, Janet (2001). Language, struggle and voice: The Bakhtin/Volosinov writings. In: Wetherell, Margaret; Taylor, Stephanie and Yates, Simeon J. eds. Discourse Theory and Practive: A Reader. London: Sage, pp. 64–71.
Maybin, Janet (2000). The new literacy studies, context, intertexuality and discourse. In: Barton, David; Hamilton, Mary and Ivanič, Roz eds. Situated Literacies: Reading and Writing in Context. London: Routledge, pp. 199–209.
Maybin, Janet (2000). Death row penfriends: some effects of letter writing on identity and relationships. In: Barton, David and Hall, Nigel eds. Letter Writing as a Social Practice. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, pp. 151–177.
Maybin, Janet (1999). The canon: historical construction and contemporary challenges. In: Davison, Jon and Moss, John eds. Issues in English Teaching. London: Routledge, pp. 180–195.
Maybin, Janet (1998). Childrens' voices: talk, knowledge and identity. In: Trudgill, Peter and Cheshire, Jenny eds. The Sociolinguistics Reader: Gender and Discourse. London: Edward Arnold, pp. 278–294.
Thomas, Kit and Maybin, Janet (1998). Investigating language practices in a multilingual London community. In: Egan-Robertson, Ann and Bloome, David eds. Students as Researchers of Language and Culture in Their Own Communities. New York: Hampton Press, pp. 143–166.
Maybin, Janet (1997). Story voices: the use of reported speech in 10-12 year olds' spontaneous narratives. In: Thomson, Linda ed. Children Talking: The Development of Pragmatic Competence. Current Issues in Language and Society. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters, pp. 36–48.
Wetherell, Margaret and Maybin, Janet (1996). The distributed self: A social construcionist perspective. In: Stevens, Richard ed. Understanding the Self. London: Sage, pp. 219–280.
Maybin, Janet (1996). Everyday talk. In: Maybin, Janet and Mercer, Neil eds. Using English: From conversation to canon. London: Routledge, pp. 5–41.
Maybin, Janet (1996). An english canon? In: Maybin, Janet and Mercer, Neil eds. Using English: From conversation to canon. London: Routledge, pp. 235–274.
Maybin, Janet and Baynham, Mike (1996). English literacy practices. In: Maybin, Janet and Mercer, Neil eds. Using English: From conversation to canon. London: Routledge, pp. 42–83.
Maybin, Janet (1994). Teaching writing: Process or genre. In: Brindley, Sue ed. Teaching English. London: Routledge, pp. 186–194.
Maybin, Janet (1993). Dialogic relationships and the construction of knowledge in informal talk. In: Graddol, D.; Thompson, L. and Byram, M. eds. Language and Culture: British Studies in Applied Linguistics 7. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters, pp. 142–152.
Maybin, Janet (1992). Childrens' language practice at home and school. In: Norman, Kate ed. Thinking Voices: The work of the National Oracy Project. London: Hodder Arnold H&S, pp. 74–82.
Not Set (1992). 'Scaffolding': Learning in the classroom. In: Norman, Kate ed. Thinking Voices: The work of the National Oracy Project. London: Hodder Arnold H&S, pp. 186–195.
Journal Article
Kehily, Mary Jane and Maybin, Janet (2011). A window on children's lives? The process and problematics of representing children in audio visual case study. Journal of Children and Media, 5(3), pp. 267–283.
Maybin, Janet (2009). A Broader View of Language in School: Research from Linguistic Ethnography. Children and Society, 23(1), p. 70.
Maybin, Janet and Swann, Joan (2007). Everyday creativity in language: textuality, contextuality and critique. Applied Linguistics, 28(4), pp. 497–517.
Maybin, Janet (2007). Literacy under and over the desk: oppositions and heterogeneity. Language and Education, 21(6), pp. 515–530.
Tusting, Karin and Maybin, Janet (2007). Linguistic ethnography and interdisciplinarity: Opening the discussion. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 11(5), pp. 575–583.
Maybin, Janet and Swann, Joan (2007). Introduction: Language creativity in everday contexts. Applied Linguistics, 28(4), pp. 491–496.
Maybin, Janet (2006). Death Row penfriends: Configuring time, space and selves. a/b: Auto/Biography Studies, 21(1), pp. 58–69.
Maybin, Janet (1999). Framing and evaluation in ten- to twelve-year-old school children’s use of repeated, appropriated, and reported speech in relation to their induction into educational procedures and practices. Text, 19(4), pp. 459–484.
Maybin, Janet (1996). Story voices: The use of reported speech in 10-12-year-olds' spontaneous narratives. Current issues in language and society, 3(1), pp. 36–48.
Maybin, Janet and Moss, Gemma (1993). Talk about texts: Reading as a social event. Journal of Research in Reading, 16(2), pp. 138–147.
Maybin, Janet and Moss, Gemma (1993). Children talk text. Changing English, 1(1), pp. 43–53.
Other
Maybin, J.; Rampton, B. and Tusting, K. (2007). Linguistic ethnography: Links, problems and possibilities. Blackwell.