In recent years, Sweden has become more multicultural than before. This is due, among other things, to the fact that an increasing number of refugees have applied here. The increased flow of immigrants has caused a lot of prejudice in society, which has also entered the school. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how these prejudices appear in society and schools and also how they may have arisen through relevant research and literature, based on an identity perspective. Since I address problems, I also want to introduce solutions, therefore, are also methods that teachers can use in second language education suggested. In order to answer these questions, research and literature on multilingualism at school have been studied. The result shows that the prejudices are various, for example it is a common idea that pupils who are multilingual are disorderly and monolinguistic students are not. One reason why people think like that is because of the media. Media has a big role in spreading preconceptions that becomes self-fulfilling prophecy. Thus, thoughts and ideas are built upon each other in society onto the incorrect truths published in the media. It is also common that it exists a “us and them feeling”, where Swedes and immigrants separately stick together. In order to challenge these prejudices in school, working methods that include all can be used. In this essay, translanguaging and genre pedagogy, using the circular model, is recommended as favorable teaching methods.

Bilinguals have been posited to have, compared to monolinguals, enhanced cognitive control, consequently exhibiting greater cognitive reserve, which is thought to subsequently delay the onset of clinical expression of dementia. Based on recent evidence suggesting that the more languages one manages the greater cognitive reserve, and that trilinguals undergo greater exercise in language control than bilinguals, this thesis investigated the effects of trilingualism and ageing on cognitive control, in young adults to older adults. As the thesis investigated the novel field of trilingualism and cognitive control, task complexity, the age of second and third language acquisition, language use, and physical and cognitive activity were also, importantly, assessed, as these are possible influencing factors in test performance. The participants completed several cognitive tasks; namely the Simon task, the Inhibition of return task, the Stroop task (inhibition) and the N-back task (working memory). The novel discovery of a trilingual (and bilingual) disadvantage was observed, which could explain some previous inconsistent findings in the bilingualism literature, where trilingualism may influence bilinguals’ test performance, as trilinguals and multilinguals are often mixed in with the bilingual group. Furthermore, the results suggest that second language acquisition and language use does not consistently predict performance in trilinguals (and bilinguals), nor does cognitive activity, although physical activity may modulate language group differences. Importantly, the results from this novel investigation of the effects of trilingualism and ageing on cognitive control suggest that trilingualism (and bilingualism) can, in some cases, be detrimental to cognitive control.

Magister Artium - MA / This study is an investigation of the application of dual-medium and parallel-medium models of bilingual schooling as implemented at two historically disadvantaged primary schools in the Western Cape. The author assumes that parallel-medium in practice uses only one language of learning and teaching (LoLT), and thus lead to monolingual classroom practice. The author used qualitative techniques (observations, interviews, and document analyses.), and triangulation method, to understand the application of dual-medium and parallel-medium instruction and the support of principals and teachers in their understanding of the design models. Observations were made in Grade 7 classrooms at selected and document analyses, triangulated with interviews conducted with principals and teachers to expound the effective practice of bilingual education at school and classroom level. Document analyses were made of classroom materials (various literary artefacts) used for the development of language proficiency. in addition, how it contributes to the Grade 7 learners academic perform and language development in dual-medium and parallel-medium classrooms. / South Africa

Bilinguals have been posited to have, compared to monolinguals, enhanced cognitive control, consequently exhibiting greater cognitive reserve, which is thought to subsequently delay the onset of clinical expression of dementia. Based on recent evidence suggesting that the more languages one manages the greater cognitive reserve, and that trilinguals undergo greater exercise in language control than bilinguals, this thesis investigated the effects of trilingualism and ageing on cognitive control, in young adults to older adults. As the thesis investigated the novel field of trilingualism and cognitive control, task complexity, the age of second and third language acquisition, language use, and physical and cognitive activity were also, importantly, assessed, as these are possible influencing factors in test performance. The participants completed several cognitive tasks; namely the Simon task, the Inhibition of return task, the Stroop task (inhibition) and the N-back task (working memory). The novel discovery of a trilingual (and bilingual) disadvantage was observed, which could explain some previous inconsistent findings in the bilingualism literature, where trilingualism may influence bilinguals’ test performance, as trilinguals and multilinguals are often mixed in with the bilingual group. Furthermore, the results suggest that second language acquisition and language use does not consistently predict performance in trilinguals (and bilinguals), nor does cognitive activity, although physical activity may modulate language group differences. Importantly, the results from this novel investigation of the effects of trilingualism and ageing on cognitive control suggest that trilingualism (and bilingualism) can, in some cases, be detrimental to cognitive control.

This paper examines how the attitudes are towards the English education, in a school, among pupils in ninth, eighth, and sixth grade, and if monolingual and bilingual pupils feel that they have any advantages or disadvantages when learning English. This study also describes how teachers influence and establish attitudes among their pupils towards the English education.Both questionnaires and interviews were used in order to collect data valuable for the research questions. The results are thereafter discussed in relation to relevant background information, for example Gardner's (1991) theory about attitudes towards language learning and Ladberg's (1994) theory about second language learning and bilingualism.The results show that pupils' attitudes influence on the English education, that teachers' attitudes influence and establish pupils' attitudes towards the language learning, and that many of the bilingual pupils feel that they have advantages when learning English.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (Linguistics, Language and Communication) / Among others, the current study had been conceived due to the fact that, although Namibia is endowed with multiple languages, their development throughout the long colonial history, had been unequal. That is, some languages received more attention than others and some were hardly developed at all. After independence, Namibians had legitimate expectations that all their (different) languages would be developed equitably throughout all the regions, and among all ethnic groups or speech communities. In the post-apartheid era, however, Namibians have been subjected to a limited and unequal language and literacy development which encouraged me to conduct a research to critically evaluate the development of Rumanyo or lack of thereof. The focus of this study is on understanding the disparities in language and literacy development in Namibia with particular emphasis on ethno-regional disparities and what precipitates these inequalities. The reason for the emphasis on region and ethnicity in researching language and literacy development was due to Namibia's multi-ethnicity and the over-lapping of regions and ethnic groups.

Sweden is getting an aging population and with this comes an increase in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Bilingualism is also on the rise and this may result in an increase of bilingual people suffering from AD. Due to the linguistic deterioration associated with the illness people with AD, bilingual and monolingual, will be an increasing patient group with speech and language pathologists (SLPs). Word retrieval difficulty is an early symptom of the disease and several strategies to compensate for this have been observed (e.g. fillers, circumlocutions and semantic parafasias). The effectiveness of these strategies has not yet been established. With this background this study attempts to investigate which strategies are used by monolingual and bilingual people with AD to compensate for word retrieval difficulties. A case study was performed on four participants with AD, two of which were monolingual and two were bilingual. Spontaneous speech was collected by means of a semi-structured conversation and a short story was produced with picture support. The results showed that there were individual differences in terms of the compensatory strategies. The results indicated that the strategies’ effectiveness depended on the progression of the disease in each individual. No differences between the bilingual participants’ first and second language were observed with exception to the usage of code switching. The picture support seemed to be of some help for the participants to achieve better fluency of speech since word retrieval difficulties seemed to decrease. The conclusion is that SLPs could make their patients aware of several different strategies to compensate for word retrieval difficulties to discover what is the most effective for each individual; furthermore pictures can be used to help clients’ narratives. / Sverige får en allt äldre befolkning. Detta för med sig ökande antal personer med Alzheimers sjukdom (AD). Då sjukdomen innebär stor språklig påverkan kan denna patientgrupp förväntas öka inom den logopediska vården. Även andelen flerspråkiga i samhället växer, vilket gör att logopeder kommer att ta emot allt fler flerspråkiga äldre patienter. Ordmobiliseringssvårigheter har setts vara ett tidigt symtom vid sjukdomen både hos enspråkiga och flerspråkiga personer. Tidigare forskning har visat att ett flertal kompensatoriska strategier (t.ex. utfyllnader, omskrivningar och utbyten) används för att hantera dessa svårigheter men det är inte klarlagt hur väl dessa strategier fungerar. Därför undersöks i denna studie vilka kompensatoriska strategier som förekommer både hos enspråkiga och flerspråkiga personer med AD. En fallstudie genomfördes på fyra deltagare med AD, varav två enspråkiga och två flerspråkiga. Spontantal samlades in genom ett semistrukturerat samtal och en kortare berättelse genomfördes med hjälp av bildstöd. Resultaten visade att effektiviteten i de använda strategierna skiljer sig mellan individer. Hur långt deltagarna kommit i sjukdomsförloppet verkade dock ha betydelse. Ingen större skillnad mellan de flerspråkiga deltagarnas båda språk observerades förutom gällande användning av kodväxling. Deltagarna verkade i viss mån vara hjälpta av bildstöd för att uppnå bättre talflyt eftersom ordmobiliseringsproblematiken tycktes minska. Slutsatser som drogs är att logopeder kan medvetandegöra patienter och närstående om ett flertal olika strategier för att hitta den strategi som fungerar bäst för den individuella patienten samt att bildstöd kan användas för att underlätta berättande.

This paper critically goes through the sources, the Swedish curricula in music published between 1962 and 2011.Through tools as discourse analysis and deconstruction it derives key expressions, checks for values and possible hierarchies between keywords relating to genre and other emphasized concepts related to the music curricula. The study pays special attention to the position of musical craft and esthetical values in the various documents. A starting point for problematization is Jacques Derrida's expression "monolingualism" where the owner, recipient and purpose of the narrative are made visible. The theoretical perspective consists of political ideology as the origin of the curricula within the education system. The analysis is based on theory and method from Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida, Giovanna Borradori and Zygmunt Bauman. Theory and method are used in the search and evaluation of wordings that reveal impact from political ambitions in the Swedish music curricula. A comparative analysis of the result concludes the study and withdraws conclusions and suggestions for future studies.

The aim of this study is to investigate how heads of schools perceive multilingualism as a resource for learning and to what extent the process of writing and implementing language policies has provided a support for developing a multilingual view on languages in schools. This is done in accordance with the multilingual turn, which states that although a multilingual view on languages has spread in the global North in recent decades due to globalization and migration, a monolinguistic hegemony still persists in countries such as Sweden. Qualitative interviews were carried out with three heads of schools in Sweden and the findings of the study are discussed in relation to theories on school development and a framework for critical reflection on multilingualism. The results show that although the interviewed heads of schools express a positive understanding of and attitude towards multilingualism and language policies, traces of a deficit discourse can be found in their answers and their teachers struggle to make multilingualism a natural part of their everyday school practice. Multilingualism and multilingual children and pupils are at times seen as problems rather than resources. Furthermore, the monolingual norm is still visible in the interviews and teachers seem stuck in the assimilation stage and heads of schools unable to overbridge the gap between ostensive and performative aspects of school development. Implications of the findings are that heads of schools as well as teachers need to further develop a multilingual and diversified view on languages as a resource for learning in order to facilitate learning for multilingual children and pupils.

This thesis investigates best practices for teaching and supporting bilingual augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) users as they develop their communication skills. Although there are guidelines that inform best practices for teaching and supporting bilingual AAC users, there is very little information on what these practices look like. This thesis investigates the techniques and strategies that bilingual speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who practice in Catalunya, a bilingual community in northeastern Spain, use to evaluate, teach, and support people who use pictogram-based AAC modalities to communicate. To do this, six SLPs who practice in Catalunya participated in interviews regarding their practices when teaching bilingual AAC users. These interviews were analyzed thematically, based on an iterative, inductive coding process. Analysis revealed that most bilingual AAC users have access to an AAC system in only one language of the community. This may reflect a monolingual mindset (Tonsing & Soto, 2020), and limits the opportunities for engagement with both the larger community, and the individuals’ home communities. This is particularly true for those who speak a language other than those of the community with their families. Despite this, AAC users seem to understand both languages, develop bilingual identities, and “feel bilingual.” Additionally, despite the lack of access to multilingual AAC systems, professionals employ practices that show respect for the home language, whether it is Castilian Spanish, Catalan, or another language. The results suggest that the monolingual mindset is a deeply-ingrained part of educational and therapeutic systems in both monolingual and bilingual communities, even when individual practitioners respect and value their clients’ home language(s) and bilingual identities.