ERIC Number: EJ1275594
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0950-0693
EISSN: N/A
Language Affordances and Pedagogical Challenges in Multilingual Grade 9 Natural Sciences Classrooms in South Africa
Mavuru, Lydia; Ramnarain, Umesh Dewnarain
International Journal of Science Education, v42 n14 p2472-2492 2020
This article draws from an exploratory study of science teachers' experiences when utilising learners' home languages in teaching grade 9 learners in three South African high schools. This research investigated teacher use of learners' home languages in science instruction, with a particular focus on the affordances and challenges of using learners' home languages. The analysis of data from 15 lesson observations and 15 post lesson teacher interviews yielded four main themes. Themes one and two highlighted the affordances of integrating learners' home language with the language of instruction. These two themes were that teachers drew on learners' home language as a tool in facilitating conceptual understanding, and that through code switching, learners acquired confidence to critically express their views on science issues. Collectively, the third and fourth themes revealed limitations in this practice as teachers experienced pedagogical difficulties when invoking learners' home languages in science instruction. The third theme revealed that teachers had limited vocabulary of African language for scientific concepts, and this limited translation between English and learners' vernacular language. The fourth theme highlighted that learners who were accustomed to learning science through code switching struggled with test or examination tasks that require them to answer in English.
Descriptors: Affordances, Barriers, Multilingualism, Natural Sciences, Science Instruction, Grade 9, High School Students, Native Language, African Languages, English (Second Language), Language of Instruction, Code Switching (Language), Scientific Concepts, Concept Formation, Vocabulary Skills, Translation, Science Teachers, Foreign Countries, Disadvantaged Environment
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 9; High Schools; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: South Africa (Johannesburg)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A