Research and the literature show that there is a culture of failure in science subjects in South African schools. Among many factors responsible for this state of affairs, it is assumed that lack of language proficiency in the Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT) could be the cause. Studies indicate that mother-tongue learning is key to better academic performance in schools. The question of which language should be used as the LoLT in South African schools is a hugely debated issue. Arguments regarding this debate centre around two main issues, namely, the Language in Education Policy (LiEP) and psycholinguistic theories. Means have to be sought to address the issue of poor academic performance by learners in these schools. One of the central areas which needs attention to improve learners academic performance in these schools is learner comprehension. An empirical research study was done in an attempt to determine whether mother-tongue subtitling would improve learners‟ comprehension of science. A total of 93 Grade 12 learners from two schools in one township were used in this study. The participants were divided into two equivalent groups: one group watched and listened to mother-tongue subtitled science content material, and the other group watched and listened to the same science content material that was not subtitled. Both groups then wrote a physical science comprehension test after watching and listening to the video. This process was repeated over a period of six weeks during which one lesson was given and one video was shown each week. The comprehension test questions were divided into the recall and understanding domains. The results of this experiment revealed that mother-tongue subtitling improved the science comprehension of learners in as far as recall is concerned. / MA (Language Practice), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

Syftet med denna studie är att återge aktuell forskning kring modersmålets inverkan hos illiteratas inlärningav ett andraspråk. För att kunna ge svar på studiensfrågeställningar redogörs för centrala begrepp inom andraspråksinlärning.Ett resultat som framkommer är att användningen av modersmålet inom ramen för undervisningen genereraren självkänsla hos inläraren. Modersmålsanvändningen gör ocksåatt inlärarenfår ökade möjlighetertillintegration i samhället.Dels kan redan befästa kunskaper och erfarenheter från modersmåletanvändasvid läsning och skrivande på andraspråket. Dels visas hos inläraren prov på en stolthet över sittkulturella arv. Tidigare språkkunskaper skapar förutsättningar för andraspråksinlärning ochger därmed en större tillförsikt till inlärarens egenförmåga.Genom ettsamarbete mellan modersmålslärare ochsfi-lärarekan en mer enhetlig bild förmedlasav en inlärares inneboende kunskaper och erfarenheter. Rent konkretkan läraren inkludera modersmålsläraren i läs-och skrivutveckling för de inläraresom inte tillgodogjort sig detlatinskaalfabetetet.

Magister Artium (Psychology) - MA(Psych) / Completion rates of postgraduate students are relatively low worldwide. Completion rates in South Africa are currently 20% for Masters students and 13% for Doctoral students. Differences between South African universities that are attributed to the political history and racially patterned ways of allocating resources and facilitating development have been identified by the literature. Recent student protests identified issues of access, representivity and language amongst others, as important concerns requiring redress. Research has shown that postgraduate graduation rates are higher among first language English speaking students than non-mother-tongue English speakers. This study utilized a collective case study design to explore the experiences of Psychology Masters students doing thesis work in their non-mother-tongue. The study was underpinned by a Social Constructionist framework. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and the transcribed interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Measures such as, member-checking, inquiry audit, providing thick descriptions, and reflexivity were employed to ensure all four aspects of trustworthiness. Ethics clearance was obtained from the Human and Social Science Research Ethics Committee of the University of the Western Cape. Permission to conduct the study at the identified institution was obtained from the Registrar. The Ethics Rules of Conduct under the Health Professions Act were fully adhered to. Results indicated that participants struggled with conceptual thinking, reading, writing and speaking. Findings also illustrated that emotional support from family and friends is vital and highlighted characteristics of helpful supervisory relationships. On a latent level, three underlying forms of rhetoric were identified from participants’ descriptions of their experience. These are skill, power, and identity. These are discussed as products of the social structures and institutional practices that undergird them.

<p>This work should be seen as a pilot study of the effect that the common-sense based statement that one understands and learns best in their best language has on pupils in Swedish schools.</p><p>A number of students have been given a mathematical test in the language they use for their normal school activities, and that is not their mother tongue. Some of them (approximately 50%) were led to believe this particular test to be language fair. Their average score on the test has then been compared to the average score on the same test of the remaining 50% students who considered the test a normal one. The difference in performance between the two subgroups has been interpreted with the help of the concept of stereotype threat.</p><p>This pilot study showed a trace of the hypothesised best language stereotype threat in a specific group of students and will hopefully serve as a guide for a larger work that could prove (or falsify) the existence of the best language stereo-type threat with statistical certainty, extend its range of applicability to a wider group of students and establish its size as compared to other related factors. A final caveat: This study is focussed on (and relevant only for those) students that perform their school activities in a language different from their mother tongue but that are fully operational in the teaching language.</p>

<p>This essay is a study about the school introduction of immigrant pupils in the Swedish compulsory school. The purpose if this study is to examine the organisation municipal school introduction for immigrant pupils in the compulsory school in Södertälje. The method I have used is qualitative research method which depends on interviews and analysis of documents.</p><p>The result shows that the municipal is without a plan for the school introduction of the immigrant pupils and that the individual compulsory school has the main responsibility for the school introduction of the immigrant pupils. The result also shows that there is a need of increased teaching of mother tongue. There is also a need of competence development within intercultural pedagogy.</p><p>My conclusions are that a municipal plan for the school introduction of immigrant pupils should increase the immigrant pupils’ possibility to a shorter time of introduction to the compulsory school.</p>

<p>The aim of this study was to investigate, illuminate and discuss teacher’s and multilingual student’s view on the connection between their mother tongue and their learning of other languages. This qualitative study is based on interviews with eight students in the 8th grade and two language-teachers from the same school, as well as ethnographic observations during English and Swedish lessons. With the help of some relevant theories, the empirical study is compared, analyzed and interpreted. The results show that the theories and informant’s view on the connection between the mother tongue and other languages are similar, which is that the mother tongue must be fully established before a new language can be taken in.</p>

<p>This research is about how the educators view the best way to help multilingual students develop their understanding for mathematics. The aim of the study is to identify the different aspects from the teacher’s point of view of this new approach of teaching: what are the limitations versus the opportunities? The study is limited to a multicultural school in Stockholm and to the experience of a few class teachers and mother tongue teachers.</p><p>A qualitative approach was used and the interview was selected as the method to collect the data. Three class teachers as well as three mother tongue teachers were interviewed about their experiences. The interviews were recorded and transcribed word by word.</p><p>There have been discussions about the skills in mathematics in multilingual speaking students, and that their greatest obstacle of understanding mathematics is that they are being taught in another language than their own mother tongue. The National Agency for Education have stated that multilingual students who gets high grades in the mother tongue education tend to get higher grades in mathematics as well (Skolverket 2008). The result shows that the staff, the class teachers and mother tongue teachers, have been able to build a bridge between mathematics and their student’s mother tongue. The results also indicate that one’s mother tongue is a key component in student’s understanding and management of mathematics. This also benefits the student’s development of their self-esteem: mathematics taught in the student’s mother tongue helps the student to develop both their first and second language side by side.</p>

This research is about how the educators view the best way to help multilingual students develop their understanding for mathematics. The aim of the study is to identify the different aspects from the teacher’s point of view of this new approach of teaching: what are the limitations versus the opportunities? The study is limited to a multicultural school in Stockholm and to the experience of a few class teachers and mother tongue teachers. A qualitative approach was used and the interview was selected as the method to collect the data. Three class teachers as well as three mother tongue teachers were interviewed about their experiences. The interviews were recorded and transcribed word by word. There have been discussions about the skills in mathematics in multilingual speaking students, and that their greatest obstacle of understanding mathematics is that they are being taught in another language than their own mother tongue. The National Agency for Education have stated that multilingual students who gets high grades in the mother tongue education tend to get higher grades in mathematics as well (Skolverket 2008). The result shows that the staff, the class teachers and mother tongue teachers, have been able to build a bridge between mathematics and their student’s mother tongue. The results also indicate that one’s mother tongue is a key component in student’s understanding and management of mathematics. This also benefits the student’s development of their self-esteem: mathematics taught in the student’s mother tongue helps the student to develop both their first and second language side by side.

This work should be seen as a pilot study of the effect that the common-sense based statement that one understands and learns best in their best language has on pupils in Swedish schools. A number of students have been given a mathematical test in the language they use for their normal school activities, and that is not their mother tongue. Some of them (approximately 50%) were led to believe this particular test to be language fair. Their average score on the test has then been compared to the average score on the same test of the remaining 50% students who considered the test a normal one. The difference in performance between the two subgroups has been interpreted with the help of the concept of stereotype threat. This pilot study showed a trace of the hypothesised best language stereotype threat in a specific group of students and will hopefully serve as a guide for a larger work that could prove (or falsify) the existence of the best language stereo-type threat with statistical certainty, extend its range of applicability to a wider group of students and establish its size as compared to other related factors. A final caveat: This study is focussed on (and relevant only for those) students that perform their school activities in a language different from their mother tongue but that are fully operational in the teaching language.

This essay is a study about the school introduction of immigrant pupils in the Swedish compulsory school. The purpose if this study is to examine the organisation municipal school introduction for immigrant pupils in the compulsory school in Södertälje. The method I have used is qualitative research method which depends on interviews and analysis of documents. The result shows that the municipal is without a plan for the school introduction of the immigrant pupils and that the individual compulsory school has the main responsibility for the school introduction of the immigrant pupils. The result also shows that there is a need of increased teaching of mother tongue. There is also a need of competence development within intercultural pedagogy. My conclusions are that a municipal plan for the school introduction of immigrant pupils should increase the immigrant pupils’ possibility to a shorter time of introduction to the compulsory school.