1. BeLiFS Becoming Literate in Faith Settings Centre for Language, Culture and Learning Educational Studies Department Goldsmiths University of London Eve Gregory Cultivating Connections, Edmonton, Canada, 15-17 July, 2010

2. Research Team Head of Project: Professor Eve Gregory Co-directors: Dr John Jessel Dr Charmian Kenner Dr Vally Lytra Ruby Mahera

3. Researchers: Halimun Choudhury, Bangladeshi Muslim Arani Ilankuberan, Tamil Hindu Amoafi Kwapong, Ghanaian Pentecostal Malgosia Woodham, Polish Catholic

4. Research Questions a) What is the scope and nature of literacy practices in each faith setting? b) How do teaching and learning take place during faith literacy activities across different settings? c) In what ways have faith literacies changed over time and in the London setting and how are these changes perceived across generations? d) How does participation in faith literacies contribute to individual and collective identities?

5. Research Methodology Collaborative ethnography (Conteh et al, 2005) Phase 1: Ethnographic observations in the faith settings Interviews with the faith leaders Attendance at religious services and classes Phase 2: Case-studies of the faith literacy activities Audiorecordings / photos of events Recordings of faith literacy events Interviews with children/their teachers/relatives Phase 3: Children will interview the older people They will prepare a book together Phase 4: Interviews with the children Discussions with faith setting leaders

7. Bangladeshi British Muslims in Whitechapel, East London

20. Tamil Hindus from India and Sri Lanka in Manor Park, East London

30. Pentecostalists from Ghana in Goodmayes, East London

44. Polish Catholics in Norwood, South London

45. The Polish Parish house

46. Love Lane

47. The Polish school

48. The Polish community centre

56. www.gold.ac.uk/clcl (e.gregory@gold.ac.uk) Thank you!