Abstract The aim of this study was to research how pedagogues work with communication and technique within language development for children with special needs. It covers children with language disorder and language delay as well as children having a different language than Swedish as their native language. The main questions used are: What means of communication methods are the pedagogues using on their daily work with children with special needs and what methods are used in the preschool to support the children with the language development? What obstacles and possibilities do the pedagogues identify when it comes to use of technical tools and what holdbacks are identified in the preschools when it comes to use of technical tools? The identified conclusions were that the sociocultural perspective became the focus of argument throughout the study as it can be used to connect communication and language development. The method to get answers to the questions was to perform four interviews in different preschools. The preschools were located within different counties close to a major city. The aim was initially to see how preschools work with technical tools and language development with children. This purpose was revisited as several preschools do not use technical tools as portable reading devices as we initially thought. The performed interviews were influenced by the model of Bornholm and knowledge of how this model can be used in the preschool support to support the language development for the children. Keywords: communication in preschool, language development, children with special needs, first language, learning tablet and social context.

Rather limited research and few significant field studies have been done on recent immigrant students particularly from the Muslim societies of the Horn of Africa and the Middle East in the American high school context regarding their linguistic, cultural and religious needs. Most research studies suggest that immigrant students receive insufficient provision. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role high schools play in provision addressing the following questions: (1) What kinds of provision have been implemented to support a culturally sensitive education in public high schools in the U.S., and how effective have they been? (2) If any, what was the effect of the reform paper No Child Left Behind? (3) How could the role of teachers as culturally responsive educators be further enhanced regarding first/heritage language and cultural heritage maintenance? (4) Which steps would have to be taken in order to move towards a culturally responsive system? Peterson’s iceberg theory regarding cultures was the guiding theoretical approach which emphasizes the fact that in order to get to know each other’s cultures, one has to closely examine the underlying issues that belong to them as the information available on the surface is simply not sufficient. Qualitative case studies were conducted based on survey questionnaires and interviews among students, parents, ESOL/ELL teachers and mainstream teachers from 6 different high schools. This study has demonstrated that high schools can, in fact, be inviting, well-equipped with adequate ESOL/ELL programs. Findings from field work carried out in Loudoun and Fairfax County public schools in Virginia in 2011, indicate that there is a need to address misconceptions among ESOL/ELL students, their teachers and their parents as to what constitutes as multicultural education environment, and first language maintenance. It is explained how the role of culture-based after school extracurricular clubs like the Muslim Students Association can serve as a bridge between the culture of one’s origin and the host society. While teachers could serve as facilitators, students can become researchers and see relevance of their culture. The result from this investigation through existing literature, stories of individuals and institutions will add to current knowledge on ESOL/ELL provision and offer a deeper understanding of needs from both parties.

This study investigated the relationship between reading attitudes in L1 and in L2 of learners in Pakistan. It also investigated the differences between reading attitudes of learners from different home backgrounds, rural and urban. The participants of the study had Sindhi as their L1 and English as their L2. They came from rural (n=186) and urban (n=202) parts of Sindh. The study employed a mixed methods approach. It collected data through a questionnaire, and semi-structured interviews. The questionnaire collected information on four reading attitude variables: self perception as a reader, utilitarian value for reading, personal involvement for reading and lack of reading anxiety both in Sindhi and in English. The fifth variable was learner’s rural/urban home background. My study partially confirms findings from previous studies indicating that reading attitudes in L1 and in L2 are related. Rural learners displayed a stronger relationship between reading attitudes in L1 and in L2, whereas urban learners displayed a weaker relationship. This finding was further confirmed when, through a multiple regression analysis, the contribution of each reading attitude was checked in terms of the coefficient values. A learner’s ‘rural/urban home background’ emerged as the strongest indicator of a learner’s reading attitudes than his/her reading attitudes in Sindhi. Thus, urban home background seems to add positively to reading attitudes in English. The findings show the importance of one’s educational background, home and society on the whole in the process of developing a learner’s attitudes towards reading in English. Furthermore, this study also demonstrated marked differences in the reading attitudes of both the groups in terms of their reading attitudes in L1 and in L2. The rural learners had better reading attitudes in L1 than their counterparts, whereas the urban learners had better reading attitudes in English than the rural learners. Such a finding again supports the role of society and social background in shaping learners’ reading attitudes in L1 or in L2.

Submitted by Rosivalda Pereira (mrs.pereira@ufma.br) on 2017-05-17T17:43:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ManuelaViana.pdf: 2426723 bytes, checksum: 8d061fd93ee18a67fdaaf8669c1cdf9a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-17T17:43:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ManuelaViana.pdf: 2426723 bytes, checksum: 8d061fd93ee18a67fdaaf8669c1cdf9a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-24 / The paper shows the analysis writing result in Portuguese as Second Language, performed by the deaf in Brazilian sign language as First Language in networks. The aim was to analyse the verb usage in Portuguese phrasal writing structure as the deaf Second Language in networks. Take as a guideline: How do the Deaf who have Brazilian sign language as First Language employ the verb in Portuguese writing in networks? To answer this question, we go first to theorists whose work deal with Brazilian sign language, Portuguese, Portuguese writing, Portuguese as Second Language, verb, networks, writings and deafness, highlighting authors as Almeida (2007), Bagno (2011), Felipe (2013), Peixoto (2004), Quadros (2004, 2006), Recuero (2011), Zeni (2010), among others who discuss about the theme. In the second place, we gathered together a group in the net WhatsApp of about 20 deaf users of Brazilian sign language as First Language. That group took part in ―daily chats‖ about ordinary subjects in the network WhatsApp. Those ―chats‖ written in Portuguese were picked up from the above mentioned network and established the research corpus that was analysed under the Phenomenology standard experienced in two moments: graphic idea analysis and nomothetics analysis (abstract and unrelated ideas. From those processes arose five different rates of analysis: Verb in the Infinitive, Auxiliar Followed by main Verb, Verb with Oral sign, Unfit Verb and Unfit Usage and Inflection Verb. The analysed results showed: the network WhatsApp is considered a tool to help the acquisition of Portuguese as Second language, the deaf acquire Portuguese language as Second Language when they use the web, having in their writing a suitable verb inflection to understand the sentence and in their writings in spoken Portuguese as oral signifying. Starting from the understanding\interpretation that the inflection and finding attitude brought us, we suggest new studies in order to make closer the relation between. Brazilian sign language as First Language and Portuguese as Second Language so that the deaf can establish an interactive linking more proficient in the society that has Portuguese as First Language. / O trabalho apresenta a análise da produção escrita em Língua Portuguesa como L2 desenvolvida por surdos usuários da Língua Brasileira de Sinais- LIBRAS como L1, nas redes sociais. O objetivo foi analisar o emprego do verbo na estrutura frasal do português escrito como segunda língua dos surdos usuários das redes sociais. Partimos da seguinte questão norteadora: De que modo os surdos que têm a LIBRAS como sua primeira língua empregam o verbo no português escrito nas redes sociais? Para responder à questão norteadora, recorremos, primeiramente, aos teóricos cujos trabalhos versavam sobre LIBRAS, língua portuguesa, português escrito, português como segunda língua, verbo, redes sociais, escrita e surdez, destacando-se autores como: Almeida (2007), Bagno (2011); Felipe (2013), Peixoto (2004), Quadros (2004, 2006), Recuero (2011), Zeni (2010), dentre outros teóricos que discutem o tema em destaque. Num segundo momento, realizamos a criação de um grupo na rede social WhatsApp composto por 20 (vinte) surdos usuários de LIBRAS como L1. Os componentes do grupo participavam de ―conversas diárias‖ sobre temas do cotidiano na rede social WhatsApp. Essas ―conversas‖, escritas em português, foram capturadas da referida rede social e constituíram o corpus da pesquisa, o qual foi analisado à luz da Fenomenologia, vivenciando dois momentos: o da análise ideográfica e o da análise nomotética. Nesse processo, emergiram das ―conversas‖ dos componentes do grupo 5 (cinco) categorias de análise: verbo no infinitivo, verbo auxiliar acompanhado de principal, verbo com marca de oralidade, verbo com emprego inadequado e verbo com flexão adequada. Os dados analisados revelam os seguintes resultados: a rede social WhatsApp é uma ferramenta a ser considerada para auxiliar na aquisição do português como L2; os surdos se apropriam do português como L2, quando usam a rede social da web, adquirindo na escrita uma flexão verbal adequada para a compreensão da sentença e se valendo, em seus escritos, até de registros próprios do português falado, como as marcas de oralidade. A partir da compreensão/interpretação que a atitude de reflexão e de desvelamento nos proporcionou, sugerimos novos estudos, no sentido de estreitar os laços entre a LIBRAS como L1 e o português como L2, para que o surdo possa estabelecer uma relação interativa mais proficiente na sociedade que tem o português como L1.

Att ha ett brett språkregister har betydelse för vilka möjligheter individen ges för att kunna verka i samhället. Språket är nyckeln för att bland annat kunna uttrycka sig, stärka identiteten och sätta sig in i andra individers kulturer, tankar och sätt att se på världen. Färdigheter, motivation, strategier och tidigare kunskap ingår i läsförståelseutvecklingen och beskrivs som ett rörligt och målmedvetet förlopp. Uppdraget som ligger hos skolan är att hjälpa eleverna att stärka sitt självförtroende kring läsning så att motivationen och intresset för läsning ökar. Finns självförtroendet, väcks motivationen och intresset vilket i sin tur ökar chanserna att eleverna på fritiden väljer att läsa. Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka relationen kring läsförståelse och motivationsfrämjande stöd i grundskolan. Uppsatsen ger en överblick över forskningen om läsförståelsen bland svenska elever, tar upp vilka orsakerna bakom den försämrade läsförståelsen kan tänkas vara, förklarar varför det är viktigt att elever besitter god läsförståelse samt redogör för vad konsekvenserna blir om eleverna inte besitter kunskapen. Vidare belyser uppsatsen motivationens roll för att främja elevers utveckling av sin läsförståelse, i vilken utsträckning motivationen kan påverka elevers läsförståelse samt vilka faktorer som ligger bakom att individer blir motiverade och hur lärare kan nyttja motivationsfrämjande stöd i sin undervisning. Begreppen läsförståelse och motivation definieras, samt en redogörelse presenteras kring vad som utgör dessa två begrepp. Relationen mellan läsförståelse och motivation har i forskningen visat sig vara aningen vag, då det inte är tydligt hur stor påverkan motivation har för god läsförståelse. Trots detta har motivation ändå en relevans för läsförståelse då det ses som en av byggstenarna som utgör begreppet läsförståelse. Vår slutsats kring motivationens relation till läsförståelse är att motivationen spelar en betydande roll kring läsutveckling och läsförståelse och att motivationsfrämjande stöd bör ges till alla elever baserat på deras individuella förutsättningar.

Le langage non-littéral (expressions idiomatiques, métaphores, métonymies, etc.) se révèle être très présent dans nos conversations de la vie de tous les jours. Contrairement à ce que l’on pourrait penser, l’utilisation du langage figuré ne revêt pas exclusivement une fonction ornementale : au contraire, la linguistique cognitive a montré que le langage non-littéral est le reflet d’un certain nombre de concepts que nous abordons de manière métaphorique (Gibbs, 1995 ; Gibbs et Tendhal, 2006 ; Lakoff et Johnson, 1980 ; et Sperber et Wilson, 1986/1995). En lien avec cet ancrage théorique, un certain nombre de chercheurs se sont intéressés au domaine de l’apprentissage et de l’enseignement des langues secondes. Ils ont proposé des stratégies d’enseignement afin de garantir un apprentissage de la langue le plus complet possible et ont surtout étudié les compétences non-littérales des apprenants en réception (Andreou et al., 2009 ; Boers, 2000 ; Boers et Lindstromberg, 2009; Cooper, 1998 et 1999 ; Komur et Cimen, 2009 ; Kosciuk, 2003 ; et Lennon, 1998). En revanche, très peu de didacticiens se sont interrogés sur les capacités des apprenants à produire du non-littéral dans une langue étrangère à l’exception de Littlemore et al. (2014), MacArthur (2010) et Nacey (2013). Afin de corroborer le travail de ces chercheuses, ce travail de thèse s’intéresse au développement du langage figuratif chez des apprenants de langue seconde tout en proposant une comparaison avec son acquisition en langue maternelle. Dans le but d’avoir une première idée de la façon dont ces deux types de sujets manient le non-littéral, j’analyse tout d’abord le discours d’une petite fille de nationalité anglaise filmée à intervalles réguliers entre l’âge d’un an et quatre ans, puis j’examine les productions écrites en anglais d’apprenants francophones. J’observe ensuite les productions non-littérales d’enfants natifs anglophones âgés de 7, 11 et 15 ans, d’apprenants francophones en classe de seconde, première année de licence d’anglais et deuxième année de master d’anglais, et enfin, d’un groupe contrôle d’adultes anglophones en interactions semi-guidées. Les résultats de ces différentes analyses révèlent de nombreux points communs entre les productions figuratives des enfants natifs anglophones et des apprenants francophones. La principale différence entre ces sujets se situe au niveau de la proportion de formes figuratives produites (croissante chez les enfants, mais constante chez les apprenants), de la proportion de formes figuratives conventionnelles produites (croissante chez les apprenants, mais constante chez les enfants) et de la forte proportion de formes déviantes chez les apprenants. Ces formes proviennent principalement d’une carence en ressources lexicales de la langue étrangère et d’expressions figuratives du français que les apprenants ont souhaité transposer en anglais. Cette thèse propose un ensemble d’implications pédagogiques pour la classe de langue dans le but de remédier à ces difficultés. / Research has shown that non-literalness is pervasive in language and that it is not always an ornamental device (e.g. to invest time in something, to be in love, the leg of a table, etc.). Metaphor permeates our way of thinking (Gibbs, 1995; Gibbs and Tendahl, 2006; Lakoff and Johnson, 1980) and serves a wide variety of discursive functions (Cameron, 2003; Charteris-Black, 2004; Müller, 2008; Steen, 2008, 2011, 2013). In the light of these findings, I propose to examine non-literal language from a second language acquisition perspective, as we know that language learners struggle to develop a successful command of the conceptual and figurative system of their L2 (Andreou and Galantomos, 2009; Irujo, 1986; Cooper, 1999; Danesi, 1992, 1995). Besides, even if recent studies have started to document L2 metaphorical performance (Littlemore et al., 2014; McArthur, 2010; Nacey 2009 and 2013), little is known about the way it actually develops across learning stages. As an attempt to bridge this gap, I propose a comparative study of figurative language development in first and second language acquisition. To get a preliminary picture of the use of non-literal language by native English-speaking children and French learners of English, I analyse the discourse of a young English child aged 1 to 4 using the Forrester Corpus available on the CHILDES database (MacWhinney, 2000), and I investigate essays written by French university students majoring in Arts and learning English as a second language. Then, I propose an L1/L2 comparative study where I analyze semi-guided interactions taking place between native English-speaking children (aged 7, 11 and 15), French learners of English (in their first year of high school, first year of B.A. in English studies and last year of M.A. in English studies), as well as native English-speaking adults. The results of this PhD project revealed many similar aspects in the figurative productions of native English-speaking children and French students. One of the main differences between the two groups is related to the amount of figurative forms produced, which increases across ages in children’s discourse while remaining constant in learners’ discourse. Another important difference is the amount of conventional figurative forms produced; they increase across learning stages in the learner’s production but remain constant in the children’s. Lastly, I observed a large amount of deviant figurative forms in the leaner’s productions, mainly resulting from L1 transfers and lexical overextensions. Taking into account these observations, implications for teaching are presented.

There are many different perceptions when it comes to teachers’ instructional language choice in the EFL classroom. Some argue for maximum use of the target language while others believe that judicious use of the L1 can benefit the students’ second language learning. The aim of this study is to investigate what research says about teachers’ target language use and first language use in upper level EFL classrooms, as well as teachers’ attitudes and beliefs regarding the choice of instructional language. The findings from this systematic literature review show that teachers mainly used L1 to save time, to explain grammar and vocabulary and to create a positive classroom atmosphere. Furthermore, the results also showed that teachers’ choice to use L1 heavily depended on students’ level of proficiency. Lastly, the results indicate that teachers not always use the L1 for pedagogical reasons, but in many cases for pragmatical reasons, individual beliefs and out of concern for students’ well-being.

This research study deals mainly with the influence of the medium of instruction on throughput at the Vaal University of Technology. The underlying hypothesis driving this research, is that learners at the Vaal University of Technology will tend to underachieve during their period of study, largely because the medium of instruction and assessment is not their first language, but a second or even a third language. The assertion is that learners on tertiary level can only perform academically well if they have gained a certain level of competency in their mother tongue, to ease the difficult process of acquiring the second language English, which is the main medium of instruction at the VUT. For most human beings language is the medium through which knowledge is transferred or negotiated. The success of this interaction is determined by the effectiveness of communication. Thus it would be fair to say, that if the means of communication is inappropriate, there will be little or no language transfer. Further, it seems logical that before any other considerations are made with regard to teaching and learning, the instrument which enables this interaction should first be in place. The research aims are: to determine the influence of a second language as medium of instruction on academic performance, to establish the nature of the support system which might facilitate the advancement of learners not prepared for the academic demands of university, to determine what can be done to address the problem and provide possible recommendations for improved academic performance. In order to attain the abovementioned research aims, a literature review and an empirical investigation were undertaken. The literature study discussed the role which the medium of instruction has played in the history of South African Education. The South African Language Policy, before and after 1994, was then reviewed. Parent and learner choice in respect of the choice of medium of instruction was then considered. The findings of the empirical study have shown that the medium of instruction has a remarkable influence on learners' proficiency and eventual performance in their content subjects. The empirical research was conducted by using a questionnaire in order to obtain data on relevant variables as indicated by the literature study, as well as identify barriers perceived by students that hamper their academic progress. Descriptive statistics, such as frequencies, were used to summarize the data. Marks from the compulsory language test at the institution were also taken into account in order to establish learners' English language proficiency. This data, together with students' marks, were interpreted in the empirical analysis. The target population for this study consisted of L1 and L2 students who registered in 2004 and will have completed their studies in 2006, as well as students having completed in 2007. The population consisted of both female and male students from the Faculty of Visual Arts and Design. In the last chapter, Chapter 6, conclusions from the literature review and empirical investigation were drawn. Recommendations for further research were provided which stressed the need for developing an appropriate training course for L2MI (Second Language Medium of Instruction) content subject teachers. Effective training in L2MI is one of the most important factors in improving the level of academic literacy in South African learners. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

This case study investigates the acquisition of Russian in a language contact situation. It examines a simultaneous Swedish-Russian bilingual child born and raised in Sweden. Qualitative analysis is provided from age 1;4 to 8;5 focusing especially on the earliest stages (before the end of the critical period at 4;5). The aim was to investigate (a) whether the child reaches the same milestones as monolingual children, (b) whether there is evidence that two separate linguistic systems have been developed, (c) whether the child’s grammatical competence in both languages might be qualitatively different from that of monolingual children and (d) whether there is interaction between the languages. The hypothesis tested is that ample input is needed to construct and develop two linguistic systems on a native-speaker level. The main result is that the two linguistic systems do not develop independently from each other; rather, 2L1s develop in permanent interaction where the weaker language – Russian – happens to be influenced by the stronger one – Swedish. The bilingual environment per se might lead to decreased structural complexity in the weaker language. Language dominance is viewed as a major determiner of cross-linguistic effects. This could lead to the development of a new individual variety of Russian (outside Russia).   The results confirm the hypothesis that, even though there was exposure to both languages from birth onwards, the amount of input in the weaker and grammatically more complex language (Russian) received before the cri­tical period was not enough to completely develop full native command of it. The lack of input has an impact on the acquisition of morphology: some morphological categories may have been set randomly or not at all. The structures observed are more ty­pical of L2 than L1 ac­quisition. Morphology may be considered a vulnerable domain since complex mor­phological rules in Russian cannot develop with­out ample input.

Στόχος της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η διερεύνηση του βαθμού ευελιξίας και παροχής δυνατοτήτων διαφοροποίησης και προσαρμογής των «διδακτικών σεναρίων» για το μάθημα της γλώσσας στο πλαίσιο μεικτών γλωσσικά και πολιτισμικά τάξεων. Για τη διερεύνηση του εν λόγω θέματος πραγματοποιήθηκε σχεδιασμός τεσσάρων διδακτικών σεναρίων για τις τάξεις Γ΄, Δ΄, Ε΄ και Στ΄, τα οποία περιλαμβάνουν διαφοροποιημένη στοχοθεσία, δραστηριότητες, κείμενα και προσεγγίσεις μάθησης, ενώ απευθύνονται τόσο σε φυσικούς ομιλητές της νεοελληνικής γλώσσας όσο και σε αλλόγλωσσους μαθητές. Αρχικά μελετήθηκαν οι διδακτικοί στόχοι αφενός του ισχύοντος Αναλυτικού Προγράμματος, όπως αυτοί υλοποιούνται στο πλαίσιο των εγχειριδίων της Γλώσσας, αφετέρου του νέου πιλοτικού Προγράμματος Σπουδών (Νέο Σχολείο), για κάθε μία από τις τέσσερις, υπό μελέτη, τάξεις. Η παραγωγή των στόχων των διαφοροποιημένων διδακτικών σεναρίων για τους αλλόγλωσσους μαθητές βασίστηκε στο Πρόγραμμα Εκπαίδευσης Μουσουλμανοπαίδων. Στη συνέχεια, πραγματοποιήθηκε ο σχεδιασμός των διδακτικών σεναρίων με βασικό άξονα την επίτευξη των γλωσσικών στόχων, όπως αυτοί περιγράφονται σε πρώτο επίπεδο για κάθε τάξη και σε δεύτερο επίπεδο για την εκάστοτε γλωσσική/πολιτισμική ομάδα. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι το διδακτικό σενάριο, ως μέθοδος διδασκαλίας, παρέχει ιδιαίτερη ευελιξία στον εκπαιδευτικό και στον μαθητή για προσέγγιση των βασικών γλωσσικών αντικειμένων, ενώ καθιστά τη διαφοροποιημένη διδασκαλία εφικτή και κυρίως αποτελεσματική, καθώς παρέχει τη δυνατότητα για συνεχή και ενεργή συμμετοχή όλων των μαθητών, κατά την εκπαιδευτική διαδικασία. Λέξεις κλειδιά: Διδακτικό σενάριο, Διδακτική της νεοελληνικής ως πρώτης γλώσσας, Διδακτική της νεοελληνικής ως δεύτερης γλώσσας. / The purpose of this study is to investigate the degree of flexibility and provide possibilities of differentiation and adaptation of «instructional scenarios» for the language tutoring in mixed lingual and cultural classes. For the research of this matter, four instructional scenarios were planned which include differentiated objectives, activities, texts and learning approaches, while they address to both native speakers of greek language, and foreign students. At first, the teaching objectives of the Curriculum studied, as implemented in the context of Language books, and of the new trial Curriculum (New School), for each of the four classes, which are under study. The production of objectives of differentiated instructional scenarios for foreign students was based on the Educational Program for Muslim Students. Then, the design of instructional scenarios accomplished with main shaft to achieve the language objectives, such as those described in the first instance for each class and in a second level for each linguistic/cultural group. The result of the design of instructional scenarios for students with different lingual/cultural base, showed that the instructional scenario, as teaching method, gives notable flexibility to both the instructor and the student to approach basic linguistic objects, whereas it renders the teaching feasible and particularly effective, as it gives the ability to all students to participate continually and actively during the educational procedure.