published_or_final_version / abstract / Psychology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thepurpose of my study is to investigate pedagogues experience of working methodsto promote linguistic phonological development in pre-school children whoselanguage development is weak. The aim is further tohighlight the obstacles and opportunities that the pedagogues in the studyconsider to aggravate and stimulate the work of language development inchildren with weak phonological awareness and how the organization's designaffects the teachers 'work in this area. Today's society places highdemands on reading and writing skills for citizens who, in turn, place highdemands and good knowledge of reading and writing lessons for all educators andteachers. Through qualitative semistructured interviews, I interviewed fiveeducator active pre-school class. The five teaching educators are from fivedifferent schools in four municipalities. The results of the study have shownthat all educators work conscious language development with language games,more or less systematically and organized. The Bornholm model is the screeningmaterial and exercises used most frequently. The biggest obstacles theeducators need to deal with is the absence of colleagues. Then the planningtime that everyone considers necessary to provide quality education is lost.Factors that promote linguistic work on phonological awareness are commoncompetence development and collaboration in the work team. In my limited study,I have gained insight into how language development works in the municipalities.I have also received good examples of language development, fun working method andmethods.

Na década de 80, um programa intitulado Language Awareness (Conscientização Linguística) surgiu na Inglaterra a fim de contribuir com a aprendizagem da língua materna. Porém, logo em seguida, passou a ser integrado também no ensino de L2. O termo “Conscientização Linguística”, de acordo com Donmall (1985, p. 7) refere- se à sensibilidade e à consciência do individuo sobre a natureza da linguagem e seu papel na vida humana. O presente estudo visa a discutir o conceito de Conscientização Linguística (CL) como uma possível prática de ensino em aulas de alemão como língua adicional em contextos bilíngues. Através de embasamento teórico, foram desenvolvidas e adaptadas atividades pedagógicas com foco na promoção da conscientização e da pluralidade linguística, para, em seguida, testá-las em duas escolas de comunidades bilíngues português-hunsrückisch da região serrana do Rio Grande do Sul. Além da própria testagem, foram instrumentos metodológicos da pesquisa: observações em sala de aula, realizadas previamente, para uma sondagem do contexto pesquisado e entrosamento com os participantes e questionários, para a coleta de dados, a fim de traçar um perfil dos alunos e professores envolvidos na pesquisa, observar os efeitos imediatos das aulas de CL, bem como envolver a participação da família, tendo em vista que foi solicitado aos alunos o preenchimento do questionário em casa. O objetivo deste trabalho é apontar caminhos que contribuam para o desenvolvimento de atitudes positivas do aluno diante da diversidade linguística em que se encontra (incluindo, neste caso, as línguas minoritárias) e para a formação de uma pedagogia de conscientização linguística, que permita se partir das línguas e culturas locais, para alcançar o aprendizado de outras línguas que lhes venham a despertar interesse. / In the 1980's, a program entitled Language Awareness emerged in England in order to contribute to the learning of the mother tongue. However it began shortly thereafter to be integrated also in L2 teaching. The term "language awareness" (LA), according to Donmall (1985, p. 7) refers to the individual’s sensitivity and awareness about the nature of language and its role in human life. The present study aims at discussing the concept of Language Awareness as a possible practice of teaching German as an additional language in bilingual contexts. Based on theoretical grounding, educational activities focusing on promoting awareness and linguistic plurality have been developed, adapted and tested in two bilingual schools of Portuguese-Hunsrückisch communities in the mountain region of Rio Grande do Sul. Besides the testing itself, the following methodological tools of research were employed: previously conducted classroom observations, in order to assess the context researched and rapport with participants, as well as questionnaires to collect data in order to draw a profile of the students and teachers involved in the research, observe the immediate effects of LA classes and engage family participation, given that students were asked to complete the questionnaire at home. The objective of this paper is twofold: to present ways that contribute to the development of positive attitudes of students with linguistic diversity (including, in this case, minority languages) and the formation of a pedagogy of language awareness which, starting from the local languages and cultures, enables the learning of other languages that might arouse their interest.

Na década de 80, um programa intitulado Language Awareness (Conscientização Linguística) surgiu na Inglaterra a fim de contribuir com a aprendizagem da língua materna. Porém, logo em seguida, passou a ser integrado também no ensino de L2. O termo “Conscientização Linguística”, de acordo com Donmall (1985, p. 7) refere- se à sensibilidade e à consciência do individuo sobre a natureza da linguagem e seu papel na vida humana. O presente estudo visa a discutir o conceito de Conscientização Linguística (CL) como uma possível prática de ensino em aulas de alemão como língua adicional em contextos bilíngues. Através de embasamento teórico, foram desenvolvidas e adaptadas atividades pedagógicas com foco na promoção da conscientização e da pluralidade linguística, para, em seguida, testá-las em duas escolas de comunidades bilíngues português-hunsrückisch da região serrana do Rio Grande do Sul. Além da própria testagem, foram instrumentos metodológicos da pesquisa: observações em sala de aula, realizadas previamente, para uma sondagem do contexto pesquisado e entrosamento com os participantes e questionários, para a coleta de dados, a fim de traçar um perfil dos alunos e professores envolvidos na pesquisa, observar os efeitos imediatos das aulas de CL, bem como envolver a participação da família, tendo em vista que foi solicitado aos alunos o preenchimento do questionário em casa. O objetivo deste trabalho é apontar caminhos que contribuam para o desenvolvimento de atitudes positivas do aluno diante da diversidade linguística em que se encontra (incluindo, neste caso, as línguas minoritárias) e para a formação de uma pedagogia de conscientização linguística, que permita se partir das línguas e culturas locais, para alcançar o aprendizado de outras línguas que lhes venham a despertar interesse. / In the 1980's, a program entitled Language Awareness emerged in England in order to contribute to the learning of the mother tongue. However it began shortly thereafter to be integrated also in L2 teaching. The term "language awareness" (LA), according to Donmall (1985, p. 7) refers to the individual’s sensitivity and awareness about the nature of language and its role in human life. The present study aims at discussing the concept of Language Awareness as a possible practice of teaching German as an additional language in bilingual contexts. Based on theoretical grounding, educational activities focusing on promoting awareness and linguistic plurality have been developed, adapted and tested in two bilingual schools of Portuguese-Hunsrückisch communities in the mountain region of Rio Grande do Sul. Besides the testing itself, the following methodological tools of research were employed: previously conducted classroom observations, in order to assess the context researched and rapport with participants, as well as questionnaires to collect data in order to draw a profile of the students and teachers involved in the research, observe the immediate effects of LA classes and engage family participation, given that students were asked to complete the questionnaire at home. The objective of this paper is twofold: to present ways that contribute to the development of positive attitudes of students with linguistic diversity (including, in this case, minority languages) and the formation of a pedagogy of language awareness which, starting from the local languages and cultures, enables the learning of other languages that might arouse their interest.

Na década de 80, um programa intitulado Language Awareness (Conscientização Linguística) surgiu na Inglaterra a fim de contribuir com a aprendizagem da língua materna. Porém, logo em seguida, passou a ser integrado também no ensino de L2. O termo “Conscientização Linguística”, de acordo com Donmall (1985, p. 7) refere- se à sensibilidade e à consciência do individuo sobre a natureza da linguagem e seu papel na vida humana. O presente estudo visa a discutir o conceito de Conscientização Linguística (CL) como uma possível prática de ensino em aulas de alemão como língua adicional em contextos bilíngues. Através de embasamento teórico, foram desenvolvidas e adaptadas atividades pedagógicas com foco na promoção da conscientização e da pluralidade linguística, para, em seguida, testá-las em duas escolas de comunidades bilíngues português-hunsrückisch da região serrana do Rio Grande do Sul. Além da própria testagem, foram instrumentos metodológicos da pesquisa: observações em sala de aula, realizadas previamente, para uma sondagem do contexto pesquisado e entrosamento com os participantes e questionários, para a coleta de dados, a fim de traçar um perfil dos alunos e professores envolvidos na pesquisa, observar os efeitos imediatos das aulas de CL, bem como envolver a participação da família, tendo em vista que foi solicitado aos alunos o preenchimento do questionário em casa. O objetivo deste trabalho é apontar caminhos que contribuam para o desenvolvimento de atitudes positivas do aluno diante da diversidade linguística em que se encontra (incluindo, neste caso, as línguas minoritárias) e para a formação de uma pedagogia de conscientização linguística, que permita se partir das línguas e culturas locais, para alcançar o aprendizado de outras línguas que lhes venham a despertar interesse. / In the 1980's, a program entitled Language Awareness emerged in England in order to contribute to the learning of the mother tongue. However it began shortly thereafter to be integrated also in L2 teaching. The term "language awareness" (LA), according to Donmall (1985, p. 7) refers to the individual’s sensitivity and awareness about the nature of language and its role in human life. The present study aims at discussing the concept of Language Awareness as a possible practice of teaching German as an additional language in bilingual contexts. Based on theoretical grounding, educational activities focusing on promoting awareness and linguistic plurality have been developed, adapted and tested in two bilingual schools of Portuguese-Hunsrückisch communities in the mountain region of Rio Grande do Sul. Besides the testing itself, the following methodological tools of research were employed: previously conducted classroom observations, in order to assess the context researched and rapport with participants, as well as questionnaires to collect data in order to draw a profile of the students and teachers involved in the research, observe the immediate effects of LA classes and engage family participation, given that students were asked to complete the questionnaire at home. The objective of this paper is twofold: to present ways that contribute to the development of positive attitudes of students with linguistic diversity (including, in this case, minority languages) and the formation of a pedagogy of language awareness which, starting from the local languages and cultures, enables the learning of other languages that might arouse their interest.

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Content-based language instruction has gained widespread acceptance as an effective approach in a range of educational settings for adults and children. It is premised on the belief that language and content are inextricably linked and that learning is enhanced through an integrated approach. Yet the nature of the relationship between content and language, and how integration can be achieved in the content-based language classroom, continue to be points of divergence for both researchers and practitioners. One approach to this question draws on research in form-focused instruction (FFI), which describes various instructional options that draw learners’ attention to form in primarily meaning and content-based classrooms. While widely accepted that FFI has a positive impact on language learning outcomes in a variety of contexts, FFI research in content-based language programs for adults has been limited. This study investigated the effect and effectiveness of FFI in a content-based language program designed to prepare adult newcomers to Canada for employment in a specific workplace sector. Two groups of adult learners participated in the study. One group of 16 adults received content-based instruction integrated with FFI while the other group of 20 adults received the same content-based instruction with a focus on meaning only. A quasi-experimental, pre-test/post-test/delayed post-test design was adopted for this comparative study in order to measure language and content outcomes. Language measures included an error correction task, a cloze task, and oral production tasks. Content outcomes were measured via content tests. In addition, a retrospective awareness protocol was designed to assess learners’ awareness of language and content in their instruction and to explore the relationship between this awareness and language development. ANOVA and ANCOVA results indicated that there was no advantage for the participants receiving form-focused instruction on language outcomes but a significant benefit on the content knowledge tests. Analysis of the retrospective report data indicated that the participants were able to identify the focus of the instruction they received. However, no relationship between awareness of language and language development was found. These findings are discussed in light of previous research and in terms of their implications for content-based language instruction.

Content-based language instruction has gained widespread acceptance as an effective approach in a range of educational settings for adults and children. It is premised on the belief that language and content are inextricably linked and that learning is enhanced through an integrated approach. Yet the nature of the relationship between content and language, and how integration can be achieved in the content-based language classroom, continue to be points of divergence for both researchers and practitioners. One approach to this question draws on research in form-focused instruction (FFI), which describes various instructional options that draw learners’ attention to form in primarily meaning and content-based classrooms. While widely accepted that FFI has a positive impact on language learning outcomes in a variety of contexts, FFI research in content-based language programs for adults has been limited. This study investigated the effect and effectiveness of FFI in a content-based language program designed to prepare adult newcomers to Canada for employment in a specific workplace sector. Two groups of adult learners participated in the study. One group of 16 adults received content-based instruction integrated with FFI while the other group of 20 adults received the same content-based instruction with a focus on meaning only. A quasi-experimental, pre-test/post-test/delayed post-test design was adopted for this comparative study in order to measure language and content outcomes. Language measures included an error correction task, a cloze task, and oral production tasks. Content outcomes were measured via content tests. In addition, a retrospective awareness protocol was designed to assess learners’ awareness of language and content in their instruction and to explore the relationship between this awareness and language development. ANOVA and ANCOVA results indicated that there was no advantage for the participants receiving form-focused instruction on language outcomes but a significant benefit on the content knowledge tests. Analysis of the retrospective report data indicated that the participants were able to identify the focus of the instruction they received. However, no relationship between awareness of language and language development was found. These findings are discussed in light of previous research and in terms of their implications for content-based language instruction.

La présente recherche documente l’évolution des représentations sur les langues de cinq cas d’élèves plurilingues et immigrants ou issus de l’immigration, scolarisés en fin de cycle du primaire en milieu pluriethnique à Montréal, tout au long de l’implantation d’un projet d’Éveil aux langues, sur une période de deux ans. La méthodologie adoptée permet de décrire en profondeur et de façon nuancée, l’évolution des représentations des élèves sur les langues de leur répertoire plurilingue d’une part, et plus largement, sur les langues et de la diversité linguistique d’autre part. Les résultats de la recherche ont permis de mettre en évidence que l’implantation d’un projet d’Éveil aux langues sur deux ans : 1) a des effets positifs sur les représentations sur la diversité linguistique de ces élèves; 2) permet de soutenir le développement de représentations positives sur les langues du répertoire linguistique des élèves qui passe par l’acceptation de compétences partielles dans l’une ou l’autre des langues de leur répertoire et par l’expression d’un sentiment de fierté à propos de leur répertoire plurilingue; 3) permet le développement, chez les élèves, de diverses stratégies pour légitimer l’intégration de langues dans lesquelles ils ont des compétences partielles au sein de leur répertoire linguistique : apporter un jugement de valeur sur leurs compétences, spécifier leur domaine de compétence (expression orale ou écrite, compréhension orale ou écrite), qualifier, étiqueter leurs langues (langue maternelle, langue d’origine, langue seconde), adapter les définitions formelles présentées dans le projet sur le plurilinguisme à leur situation; 4) les représentations sur les langues par les élèves peuvent être marquées par le poids des représentations sociales; toutefois, cette tendance se lénifie au fur et à mesure de l’implantation du projet et une majorité d’élèves partage des représentations plus individualisées et moins marquées par des stéréotypes en fin de projet; 5) permet, pour les élèves de niveau scolaire fort et moyen, le développement d’un vocabulaire de haut niveau ainsi que le développement d’une curiosité envers la langue de l’Autre; 6) permet, pour les élèves de niveau scolaire faible, et à partir de la seconde année d’implantation, le développement d’un engagement dans les activités qui passe par une participation accrue au projet et le développement de compétence langagière (meilleure qualité argumentative); 7) offre la possibilité aux élèves de se connaître les uns les autres, d’être à l’écoute de l’Autre et d’exprimer de la curiosité envers la langue de l’autre et de reconnaître l’expertise de l’Autre, ceci participant à la mise en place d’une dynamique relationnelle propice aux apprentissages / This research documents plurilingual immigrant students’ participation in a two year long Language Awareness Program through which their representations of languages are transformed. The current study is set in a multiethnic elementary school in Montreal. The researcher adopts case study methodology to provide an in depth and detailed description of the evolution of the students’ representations of languages on both an individual and a societal level. The students’ representations of the languages in their plurilingual repertoire are examined as well as their representations of linguistic diversity and languages in general. The results of the implementation of a Language Awareness Program over the course of two years: 1) show positive effects on the students’ representations of linguistic diversity; 2) provide support for the students’ developing positive representations of the languages in their plurilingual repertoire by their greater acceptance of partial competencies in one or more of their languages and their increasing ability to express pride surrounding their plurilingualism; 3) illustrate the development of a variety of strategies adopted by the students to legitimize the integration of languages in their repertoire, specifically those in which they possess only partial competencies, including: the ability to evaluate these competencies, to specify their domain (oral or written expression, oral or written comprehension), to qualify and label them using the recognized terminology (mother tongue, second language, language of origin) and to adapt the formal definitions presented in the Language Awareness Program to describe their plurilingual repertoire; 4) show how the majority of the students’ representations of languages shifted throughout the course of the Language Awareness program from an initial tendency to share widely held social representations, including language stereotypes, to the development of increasingly personal and nuanced perspectives by the end of the project; 5) illustrate the development of higher order vocabulary skills as well as an enhanced interest in other students’ languages for participants with strong or average academic skills; 6) show increased investment in Language Awareness activities and greater participation as of the second year of the project, along with the development of stronger oral language skills (expression of opinions and arguments) for participants with a weaker academic skills; 7) reveal the establishment of a classroom climate that fosters learning and reflection about self and others, including the opportunity to gain deeper knowledge of classmates, to develop listening skills, to express an interest in other students’ languages and to recognize their unique abilities.

S’inscrivant dans le cadre du projet «Transferts d’apprentissages», dont nous avons exploité les données et la méthodologie, cette thèse se propose d’analyser l’apport des activités d’éveil aux langues et de prise de consciences métalinguistiques dans les activités de classe des écoles bilingues songhay-français.Dans son développement, elle s’est appuyée sur les théories du bilinguisme, de l’enseignement-apprentissage et de l’analyse du discours pour mettre l’accent, à partir de l’analyse des films de douze séquences de cours, sur les conditions et les processus d’apprentissage dans quatre disciplines fondamentales: la grammaire, la lecture, le calcul et les sciences d’observations. Cette thèse a émis des propositions relatives à des apports pédagogiques pour les maîtres pour l’amélioration du traitement métalinguistique de la L1 et la L2, en vue de potentialiser les apprentissages chez les élèves. Ces propositions concernent la valorisation du comportement épilinguistique de l’élève, la comparaison entre L1 et L2 à travers les activités métalinguistiques, les reformulations à visée didactique dans les deux langues, le recours à la méthode mixte en lecture et la valorisation de la culture de l’élève. / As part of the project "Transfers of Learning", the data and methodology of which we have used, this thesis proposes to analyze the contribution of language awareness activities and metalinguistic awareness in classroom activities of Songhay-French bilingual schools. In its development, it has relied on theories of bilingualism, teaching-learning and discourse analysis to emphasize the analysis of video shows of twelve course sequences on the conditions and learning processes in four important disciplines: grammar, reading, calculation and science observations. This thesis has issued proposals for educational contributions for teachers to improve the meta-linguistic treatment of L1 and L2 and student’s learning. These proposals concern the assessment of student’s epilinguistic behavior, the comparison of L1 and L2 through the metalinguistic activities, the didactic reformulations in both languages, the use of the mixed method of reading and the assessment of student’s culture.