No description available.

Sammanfattning Detta arbete handlar om i vilka lärsituationer lärare upplever språkbarriärer hos andraspråkselever i matematikundervisningen. Studien handlar även om att undersöka vilka strategier lärare använder sig av för att stötta andraspråkselever när språkbarriärer uppstår. Vidare är vi intresserade av att undersöka hur lärare ser på att digitala verktyg kan stötta när språkbarriärer uppstår i matematikundervisningen för andraspråkselever. Denna studie är baserad på två teoretiska koncept, scaffolding och den didaktiska triangeln. Studien undersöker vart i den didaktiska triangeln som språkbarriärer uppstår samt vilka delar som lärare använder för att stötta eleverna. I studien genomförs det kvalitativa intervjuer med lärare på låg- och mellanstadiet som undervisar i matematik och har andraspråkselever i klassrummet.   Genom att undersöka lärarens syn på språkbarriärer kom vi fram till att lärarna upplever språkbarriärer i sin matematikundervisning. Lärarna använder sig av flertalet strategier för att stötta sina elever, däremot skiljde sig inte stöttning markant mellan andraspråkselever och elever med svenska som modersmål. Lärarna ansåg att digitala verktyg var stöttande för andraspråkselever, främst vid översättning. Resultatet visade att lärare ofta justerade sin framställning av innehållet eller stärkte sin interaktion med eleven för att stötta andraspråkseleverna när språkbarriärer uppstår. Studien visar även att lärare upplever digitala verktyg som stöttande men att utbudet är bristfälligt gentemot andraspråkselever. Nyttan med vår studie är att den kan bidra med kunskaper om hur lärare kan stötta andraspråkselever i matematikundervisningen. Studien synliggör vart språkbarriärer uppstår samt vart stöttningen sker från lärarna. Vårt intresse var att uppmärksamma vilka strategier lärarna använder och om digitala verktyg kan vara ett hjälpmedel när språkbarriärer uppstår i matematikundervisningen.    Nyckelord: Andraspråkselever, språkbarriärer, digitala verktyg, strategier, stöttning / Abstract This work is about in which learning situations teachers experience languages barriers with second language learners in mathematics education. The study also aims to investigate the strategies teachers use to support second language learners when languages barriers arise. Furthermore, we are interested in exploring whether teacher sees that digital tools can support second languages learners when languages barriers arise in mathematics education. Based on two theoretical concepts, scaffolding and the didactical triangle this study. The study examines where in the didactic triangle languages barriers arise and which parts teachers use to support their students. Qualitative interviews were conducted with teachers in primary school who teach mathematics and have second language learners in their classrooms.  By examining teachers´ view of languages barriers, we found that teachers do experience languages barriers in their mathematics teaching. Teachers use several strategies to support their students, but this support does not differ noteworthy between second languages learners and students with Swedish as their mother tongue. Teachers find digital tools supportive for second language learners, mainly for translation. The study showed that teachers often adjust their presentation of the content or strengthened their interaction with the student to support second language learners when language barriers arise. The study also shows that teachers perceive digital tools as supportive, but the range of available tools is insufficient for second language learners.  Our study is that it can contributes with knowledge about how teachers can support second language learners in mathematics education. The study makes visible where languages barriers arise and where support is provided by teachers. Our interest was to draw attention to the strategies teachers use and whether digital tools can be helpful when languages barriers arise in mathematics education.      Keywords: Second language learners, languages barriers, digital tools, strategies, support

Syftet med den här studien är att undersöka rektorers motiv i val av organisationsmodell för undervisning av nyanlända elever i årskurs 1–6. Fokus har varit organisationsmodellerna direktintegrering och förberedelseklass. Frågeställningarna kopplar till i vad mån styrdokument och forskning ligger till grund för beslut gällande organisationsmodell. Vilka tolkningar gör rektorerna rörande utbildning av andraspråkselever utifrån huvudmannens policy. Viktigt har även varit vilka erfarenheter som finns ute på skolenheterna för valet av organisationsmodell. Jag har valt att genomföra semistrukturerade intervjuer som metod för studien. Fem rektorer från olika delar av Sverige har intervjuats. Resultatet pekar på att styrdokumenten inte ligger till grund för valet av organisationsmodell. Däremot verkar den nya läroplanen skapat organisatoriska tankar om och förändringar av former för ökad undervisning i svenska som andraspråk. Delaktighet när det gäller forskning indikerar positiva effekter ute på skolenheterna. Huvudmannens stöd och brister i den samma blir påtagliga i denna studie. En aktiv huvudman med både kunskap om nyanländas lärande och även delaktighet i forskning är delar som lyfts som positiva. Bristerna handlar om uppföljning och säkerställd likvärdighet. Arbetet med att skapa språkgrupper, med elever som talar samma språk, är en av erfarenheterna som lyfts som språkutvecklande på andraspråket. Resultatet verkar också visa på att rektorerna ser elevbehovet som centralt med flexibla organisationer som stödjer behovet. Även ett interkulturellt ledarskap framträder. Det finns lite forskning när det gäller nyanlända elever i de lägre åldrarna och studien har bidragit med att fördjupa kunskaperna om rektorers tankar och beslut gällande organisationsmodell. Det förordas dock mer forskning på området där även skolor i andra typer av språkliga- och sociala kontexter ställs mot varandra.

Over 20,000 Swedish lower high school students are currently learning mathematics in English but little research has been conducted in this area. This study looks into the question of how much second language learner training teachers teaching mathematics in English to Swedish speaking students have acquired and how many of those teachers are using effective teaching practices for second language learners. The study confirms earlier findings that report few teachers receive training in second language learning but indicates that some of the teaching practices shown to be effective with second language learners are being used in some Swedish schools / Mer än 20 000 högstadiet elever i Sverige har valt att lära sig matematik på engelska, men det finns väldigt lite forskning inom området. Detta arbete granskar hur mycket utbildning i andraspråksinlärning har lärare som undervisar matematik på engelska till svensktalande elever och hur många av de undervisnings-strategier som tidigare forskning har visat att vara effektiva används numera under matematiklektionerna på engelska? Arbetet bekräftar tidigare forskning, som visar att få lärare som undervisar matematik på engelska till svensktalande elever har fått utbildning i andraspråksinlärning, men den här forskningen visar att några av de effektiva strategierna numera används under matematiklektioner i vissa skolor. / <p>Matematik</p>

Thesis (DPhil (General Linguistics))—University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Addressing the low literacy rates in South Africa poses a mountainous challenge. However, identifying children at risk for reading difficulties and providing timely and preventative intervention might be a good starting point to addressing this challenge. This study aimed at making a contribution to the existing body of literature on emergent literacy skills of learners who are educated in a second or additional language. The study investigated English Language Learners’ (ELLs) emergent literacy skills prior to entering Grade 1 and evaluated the effectiveness of an evidence-based stimulation program in the South African context. The main research question this study attempted to answer was: “What is the effect of a stimulation program for emergent literacy skills in Grade R on the development of literacy of English Language Learners in Grade 1?” In a quasiexperimental design, ELLs’ emergent literacy skills were assessed with an adapted version of the Emergent Literacy Assessment battery (Willenberg 2004) and were compared to those of English first language (L1) and of ELL control groups, both prior to and after an 8-week purpose-designed stimulation program. Results indicated that while learners showed significant improvement on six out of the eight subtests, the particular intervention program did not significantly improve ELLs’ emergent literacy skills (those pertaining to alphabet knowledge, phoneme awareness, print awareness and oral language skills, amongst others) when compared to learners in the respective control groups. When controlling for receptive language abilities, English L1 learners did not perform any better than their L2 peers on any of the eight measures of emergent literacy prior to intervention. Furthermore, upon entering Grade 1, there was no statistical significant difference in the performance of the English L1 learners and ELLs on any of the eight subtests after intervention. Possible independent variables contributing to the dearth of intervention effect included socio-economic status, learners’ L1, and teacher and classroom specific characteristics. These variables were addressed, and clinical implications for speech-language therapists with regards to assessment, intervention, service delivery and outcome measures were highlighted. / AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Die aanspreek van Suid-Afrika se geletterdheidsvraagstuk is ‘n reuse uitdaging. Die vroeë identifisering van kinders met ‘n hoë risiko vir leesprobleme en die verskaffing van tydige en voorkomende intervensie mag egter ‘n goeie beginpunt wees in die aanspreek van hierdie uitdaging. Hierdie studie het gepoog om ‘n bydrae te lewer tot die bestaande literatuur oor ontluikende geletterdheidsvaardighede van kinders wat in ‘n tweede of addisionele taal onderrig word. Die studie het die ontluikende geletterheidsvaardighede ondersoek van Graad R-leerders wat in Engels onderrig word, maar vir wie Engels nie hul eerste taal is nie, asook die effektiwiteit van ‘n navorsingsgebaseerde stimulasieprogram binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Die hoof navorsingsvraag van die studie was: “Wat is die effek van ‘n stimulasieprogram vir ontluikende geletterheidsvaardighede in Graad R op die ontwikkeling van geletterdheid van Engels tweede taal (T2)-leerders in Graad 1?” In ‘n kwasieksperimentele ontwerp is Engels T2-leerders se ontluikende geletterheidsvaardighede met ‘n aangepaste weergawe van die Emergent Literacy Assessment Battery (Willenberg 2004) geëvalueer, en voor en na ‘n 8-week doelgerigte stimulasieprogram vergelyk met die vaardighede van kontrolegroepe wat bestaan het uit Engels eerste taal (T1)-leerders en Engels T2-leerders onderskeidelik. Alhoewel leerders ‘n beduidende verbetering in ses van die agt subtoetse getoon het, het die spesifieke intervensieprogram nie T2-leerders in die eksperimentele groepe se ontluikende geletterdheidsvaardighede beduidend verbeter in vergelyking met leerders in die twee kontrole groepe nie (dit sluit in onder andere alfabetkennis, foneembewustheid, drukbewustheid en orale taalvaardighede). Wanneer daar vir reseptiewe taalvaardighede gekontroleer is, het die T1-leerders nie beduidend beter gevaar as hul T2-portuurgroep op enige van die agt subtoetse van ontluikende geletterdheid nie, en met toetrede tot Graad 1 was daar gevolglik geen statisties beduidende verskil tussen die T1- en T2-groepe ten opsigte van enige van die agt subtoetse nie. Moontlike onafhanklike veranderlikes wat tot hierdie gebrek aan intervensie-effek kon bydra, sluit sosio-ekonomiese status, leerders se T1 en onderwyseren klaskamer-spesifieke eienskappe in. Hierdie veranderlikes is aangespreek, en die kliniese implikasies vir spraak-taalterapeute met betrekking tot evaluasie, intervensie, dienslewering en die noukeurige meting van uitkomste is toegelig.

<p>This thesis consists of an introductory summary and three studies focusing language, interaction, and learning in multilingual schools. The overall aim of the thesis is to contribute to the understanding of student learning in diverse schools. </p><p>The first study of the thesis examines the field of cooperative learning with the aim of summarizing, in an overview, research that addresses small group activities in heterogeneous classrooms. The overview indicates that this research is dominated by input-output studies. Process-oriented studies of student interaction constitute a smaller part of research within this field.</p><p>The two subsequent studies were carried out in three multilingual middle school classes in Sweden. The second study concentrates mainly on the second language learners of these classes with the aim of describing language and learning conditions in actual classrooms. A main finding of the study is that second language students fell behind their monolingual Swedish speaking peers in social studies and in other subjects across the curriculum. The study also shows that students form separate groups of Swedes and immigrants inside as well as outside the classroom.</p><p>The third study investigates small group activities in the above mentioned classes. The aim of the study is to gain insight into students’ joint problem-solving processes and thereby provide a broader understanding of learning as socially and interactionally constituted. The data consists of video recordings of small group conversations from which language-related episodes were identified, transcribed and studied applying conversation analysis methods. The findings show that the students are able to scaffold each other effectively in co-constructing linguistic knowledge through social interaction. At the same time, negotiations of power and status are included in their problem-solving processes.</p>

This thesis consists of an introductory summary and three studies focusing language, interaction, and learning in multilingual schools. The overall aim of the thesis is to contribute to the understanding of student learning in diverse schools. The first study of the thesis examines the field of cooperative learning with the aim of summarizing, in an overview, research that addresses small group activities in heterogeneous classrooms. The overview indicates that this research is dominated by input-output studies. Process-oriented studies of student interaction constitute a smaller part of research within this field. The two subsequent studies were carried out in three multilingual middle school classes in Sweden. The second study concentrates mainly on the second language learners of these classes with the aim of describing language and learning conditions in actual classrooms. A main finding of the study is that second language students fell behind their monolingual Swedish speaking peers in social studies and in other subjects across the curriculum. The study also shows that students form separate groups of Swedes and immigrants inside as well as outside the classroom. The third study investigates small group activities in the above mentioned classes. The aim of the study is to gain insight into students’ joint problem-solving processes and thereby provide a broader understanding of learning as socially and interactionally constituted. The data consists of video recordings of small group conversations from which language-related episodes were identified, transcribed and studied applying conversation analysis methods. The findings show that the students are able to scaffold each other effectively in co-constructing linguistic knowledge through social interaction. At the same time, negotiations of power and status are included in their problem-solving processes.

No description available.

This study investigates the role of the Internet in teaching and learning French as a second language. In facilitating communication with francophones and access to topical information in French, the use of the Internet addresses many of the criticisms identified in prior research of the static nature of traditional computer-assisted language learning (CALL). The Internet potentially plays an important role in realizing the goals of the communicative approach in the British Columbia Core French curriculum. This study documents a variety of language learning activities that make use of the Internet's many facets, such as electronic mail, listservs, gophers, Usenet newsgroups, and World-Wide Web. Questionnaires were distributed to French teachers who either registered for an electronically-distributed course or attended a workshop on using the Internet in the French as a second language classroom. Follow-up interviews were conducted with a selection of teachers who completed and returned the questionnaire. The present study found that French teachers continue to value the Internet most for the exchange of electronic mail with francophone students. While expressing interest in other Internetbased activities, the teachers identified overriding concerns about keeping their students on-task, and about the poor quality and quantity of computing facilities at their schools. Further research should involve case studies with teachers who are implementing a variety of Internet activities over an extended term.

Studies carried out by different scholars have shown that the social roles society assigns to women and men create differences in how the genders use language. However, there is little previous research in the domain of gender and topic shift or initiation. This essay aims to investigate possible gender differences in topic shift and initiation in multiparty conversation among second language learners of English in upper secondary school. The three group discussions were recorded in a classroom setting and the data collected was transcribed. The topical shifts in the transcripts were coded using the Topical Episode Analysis (TEA) and the episode shifts in each conversation were analyzed on the basis of gender distribution and type of shift. In addition, the findings of the three groups were compared and discussed. The main result of this study was that the boys initiated 100 percent more shifts than the girls. The boys took up more linguistic space and dominated the topical shifts in the conversation which indicates that gender differences in topic shift and initiation exists, a finding that is consistent with previous research within the field of gender and language. In conclusion, gender differences were found between how the girls and the boys participating in this study shifted and initiated topics. The boys initiated more shifts than the girls in the multiparty conversations.