Meeting linguistic challenges in the science classroom: pre-service ESL teachers' strategies

This study explores the perceptions and challenges of Malaysian pre-service teachers teaching science in a second language. A qualitative case study method was used with multiple sources of data to provide insights into the challenges that a group of pre-service teachers faced during their teaching practicum. The pre-service teachers had to overcome various challenges that arose due to factors such as lack of competency in the medium of instruction and the students' varying levels of language ability. In addressing the challenges faced, they employed various strategies, including code switching and mixing, teacher-student collaboration, rephrasing and re-emphasizing, the use of instructional aids, and the use of analogies. The evidence presented in this study suggests that attention should be given to addressing the English language policy in the science teacher education programme.     

Differential Performance by English Language Learners on an Inquiry-Based Science Assessment

The performance of English language learners (ELLs) has been a concern given the rapidly changing demographics in US K-12 education. This study aimed to examine whether students' English language status has an impact on their inquiry science performance. Differential item functioning (DIF) analysis was conducted with regard to ELL status on an inquiry-based science assessment, using a multifaceted Rasch DIF model. A total of 1,396 seventh- and eighth-grade students took the science test, including 313 ELL students. The results showed that, overall, non-ELLs significantly outperformed ELLs. Of the four items that showed DIF, three favored non-ELLs while one favored ELLs. The item that favored ELLs provided a graphic representation of a science concept within a family context. There is some evidence that constructed-response items may help ELLs articulate scientific reasoning using their own words. Assessment developers and teachers should pay attention to the possible interaction between linguistic challenges and science content when designing assessment for and providing instruction to ELLs.     

外语教育政策、二语习得年龄和对外汉语教学

为了提高学生的外语(或二语)水平,很多国家降低了学生学习外语的年龄。这种做法和神经科学关于双语者二语习得起始年龄的研究结果相一致。相关的研究表明,早期的二语习得者其二语大脑加工模式类似于第一语言和母语单语者,而晚二语者的二语加工有激活脑区扩大、激活水平提高的倾向。早二语者更有可能获得接近母语者的二语水平。让学习者在较小的年龄接触外语是一个有效的方法。汉语是外语教育低龄化的受益语言,覆盖低龄学习者,帮助国外解决低龄学习者汉语教学师资问题应该成为汉语国际推广的重要内容。国内的对外汉语教学界要加强针对低龄儿童的教学研究,建立低龄儿童汉语教学师资培训机制,以顺应国外外语教育的发展趋势,促进汉语国际推广。     

基于语言政策尼日利亚中小学的语言教育分析

语言规划是一种作用于语言的社会活动,一般发生在国家的层次上。很多国家有多个民族、多种语言,政府选择什么语言作为官方语言,这是一个重大的社会问题,也是一个典型的语言规划的问题。本文以非洲最大的国家尼日利亚为例,分析了其现行的语言政策及语言教育,特别是尼日利亚中小学的语言教育,并总结了其语言政策在民族认同方面的得失。     

Evaluation of the Effects of the Medium of Instruction on Science Learning of Hong Kong Secondary Students: Students’ Self-Concept in Science

A longitudinal study has been conducted to explore the impact of a new language policy for Hong Kong secondary schools on science learning. According to this policy, only schools that recruit the best 25% of students can teach science in English, the students' second language, while the other schools have to teach science in Chinese, the students' native language. The study involved a student cohort of 100 schools starting from S1 for three years. The outcome of science learning is conceptualized as consisting of students' achievement and self-concept in science. This paper reports the possible effects of English-medium instruction (EMI) and Chinese-medium instruction (CMI) on students' self-concept in science, as measured by students' responses to a questionnaire. Comparing with the CMI students, the EMI students showed higher self-concepts in Chinese, English and Mathematics, but a lower self-concept in science. This finding suggests that the EMI students might experience greater learning problems in science than in other subjects, probably because science learning involves abstract thinking and the mastery of scientific terminology which make a high demand on language proficiency. The EMI students showed a greater interest in learning science than the CMI students, indicating that they were more academically oriented. The EMI students, however, formed a lower perceived self-competence in science than their CMI peers, despite that they performed better in the science achievement test than many of the CMI students. This perception supports the view that using English for instruction may have negative effects on science learning. It is also consistent with the observation that the EMI students perceived science as more difficult to understand and learn than the CMI students.     

The Intersection of Language,Education, and Content: Science Instruction for ESL Students

In this study, the author investigated the relationships among Turkish students' perceived computer skills, computer attitudes, quantitative skills, qualitative skills, and gender. The author collected data from a total of 362 undergraduate students. He found that gender was a significant variable to predict computer attitudes but not perceived skills. The author found no significant correlations between perceived computer skills and attitudes. Although computer attitudes and qualitative skills were significantly and negatively correlated, the author found no significant associations between computer skills and quantitative skills and between computer attitudes and quantitative skills. At least one variable explained variances in each of the subscales of the computer-attitude scale.     

Meeting the Needs of High School Science Teachers in English Language Learner Instruction

This survey study explored high school science teachers’ challenges and needs specific to their growing English language learning (ELL) student population. Thirty-three science teachers from 6 English as a Second language (ESL)-center high schools in central Virginia participated in the survey. Issues surveyed were (a) strategies used by science teachers to accommodate ELL students’ special needs, (b) challenges they experienced, and (c) support and training necessary for effective ELL instruction. Results suggest that language barriers as well as ELL students’ lack of science foundational knowledge challenged teachers most. Teachers perceived that appropriate instructional materials and pedagogical training was most needed. The findings have implications for science teacher preservice and inservice education in regard to working with language minority students.

Performance of English Language Learners as a Subgroup in Large-Scale Assessment: Interaction of Research and Policy

Factors that contribute to the performance gap between subgroups and mainstream students deserve special attention. Different subgroups are faced with different sets of challenges. To understand and control for factors leading to the performance gap between subgroups and mainstream students one must clearly understand the issues specific to each subgroup. This paper focuses on assessment and performance issues for English language learner (ELL) students as a subgroup. Identifying factors affecting the performance gap between ELL and non-ELL students may help gain insight into assessment issues for other subgroups of students as well as strengthen assessment of this group.     

浅谈二语习得者的心理表征和语言表征

从心理语言学的角度对母语习得者与二语习得者的心理表征进行了比较,提出两者在本质上是一致的;分析了二语习得者语言表征的构成和词汇学习的过程,指出语言表征是心理表征的语言实现;认为大学英语课堂教学应重视语言输入和输出过程,并以概念为中心引导学生避开母语的干扰作用。     

Helping ELLs Meet the Common Core State Standards for Literacy in Science: The Impact of an Instructional Intervention Focused on Academic Language

Abstract

The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an intervention—Quality English and Science Teaching 2—designed to help English language learners (ELLs) and their English proficient classmates develop academic language in science, as required by the Common Core State Standards. The intervention consisted of supplementary instructional materials and professional development. Participants included 1,309 students, of whom 353 were ELLs. Sixty sections taught by 15 teachers in seven middle schools were randomized within teacher to the intervention or the control condition. Treatment effects were tested separately for academic language and science knowledge. For the whole group, results indicated posttest differences favoring the treatment group sections were statistically significant for academic language and science. For ELLs however, posttest differences favored the treatment group for academic language only. Follow-up analyses investigating implementation found that treatment fidelity was related to gains in both academic language and science knowledge for the group as a whole and for ELLs. Effect sizes suggest the intervention was promising in promoting the academic language in science of both ELLs and their English proficient classmates.     

初中科学教师科学本质观的调查研究——以浙江省初中科学教师为例

通过问卷调查发现,初中科学教师对于科学世界观、科学探究和科学事业方面的认识偏向于传统的科学本质观。缘此,在初中科学教师教育课程中要增设HPS教育,帮助他们从"科学元勘"诸学科的多维视野下理解科学的本质,发展科学本质观。具体策略包括:通过对科学哲学的探讨,认识科学的逻辑结构和发展模式;通过对科学史的考察,凸显科学的人文意蕴;通过对科学社会学的审视,理解科学的社会建制。     

多层面语言政策视角下美国高等院校继承语教育的发展

文章从语言政策的角度出发,分析了来自于不同层面、不同语言政策行为主体的语言政策活动对高校继承语教育产生的影响,以此说明美国高校的继承语教育政策是多方语言政策行为主体互相影响、互相协调、互相妥协的结果,微妙地促成了一个能够暂时平衡各方利益和需求的现状。但是,目前美国高校的继承语教育政策实际上是在努力规避触及“种族”这一核心问题,尽量维护表面和谐。严格来讲,美国高校的继承语教育并不能从真正意义上保护和促进少数族裔的语言权利,它更多的是一个单纯的外语教育促进政策。     

外语写作及写作教学研究动态评介

通过广泛的文献研究,本文作者发现,2004年度针对外语写作及写作教学的研究主要集中在以下4个方面:(1)对教学方法和策略的研究,其中最为突出的是计算机网络辅助写作教学。(2)对写作评价的研究,其研究的热点是写作错误反馈的方法。(3)针对语篇的研究兴趣依然不减,这进一步加深了人们对语言与文化关系的理解。(4)学者们开始关注对纯语篇的探讨,这为充分理解作者的写作目的和态度提供了一个新的视角。     

Quality Assurance Mechanisms and Processes in Teaching Practice: The Case of the University of Botswana

ABSTRACT

Teacher education in Botswana is offered at various higher education institutions (HEIs). Undergraduate pre-service teachers for the secondary school level are trained at the University of Botswana (UB) and the Botswana College of Agriculture, and both HEIs offer different and autonomous teacher-training programmes. The Faculty of Education at UB has its own quality assurance mechanisms for the Teaching Practice (TP) and Practicum. The purpose of the study reported on was to identify the quality assurance mechanisms and processes in place and then to establish their effectiveness. The research type adopted was the case study. Data for the study was collected through document analysis, an open-ended questionnaire and interviews with student teachers, TP coordinators and supervisors and those who have participated in moderation panels. Generally, the findings indicated that there are effective quality assurance mechanisms, structures, processes and procedures in place for the TP at UB.     

浅析第二语言学习者在中高级阶段的汉语书面表达问题

口头表达和书面表达是两种不同的语体，需要视具体情况进行区分和转换。双语教学中，有针对性地培养学生的书面表达能力是中高级阶段汉语教学的主要任务。     

自然科学中考复习方法探索

努力搞好中考复习,探索一种好的复习方法,真正减轻学生的课业负担,是对我们一线教育工作者提出的一个课题。本文结合笔者的教学实践,对这方面进行论述,目的是让每一个学生掌握的知识完整化、系统化、实用化。     

教学媒介语折射出的外语教师教学环境观——基于国内外语课堂教学媒介语研究现状

教学媒介语是教师进行课堂教学时所使用的语言,是外语教学法的一个重要参数。教师对外语教学中教学媒介语的态度和教学媒介语的实际使用情况折射出教师不同的教学环境观。本文对国内的有关研究进行介绍和分析,发现外语教师在联结学派和认知学派中采取了折衷的观点。     

Hegemony and accommodation in the history curriculum in colonial Botswana

A reanalysis of colonial education is necessary in order to highlight its multifaceted and hybrid nature in specific colonial contexts. Although in general, colonial education served the socio-political needs of the colonial machinery, the colonial government's hegemonic authority over the school curriculum did not operate as a totalising project. It was fettered by issues of political and social expediency that required both assimilation and accommodation in dealing with the sensitivities that were part and parcel of colonial rule. Influenced by theories of colonialism, this study used primary and secondary sources, in order to provide a nuanced understanding of the colonial history curriculum in Botswana. The paper argues that colonial rule was not merely a result of a foreign administration, but operated subject to local (counter-veiling) conditions, which reflected the complexities of the colonial context, and inadvertently influenced colonial education policy and practice, as well. Moreover, in the quest to create room for the incorporation of indigenous histories, the colonial authorities unwittingly came to reinforce the cultural hegemony of the principal Tswana groups. This provided the basis for the framing of history curricula in ways that inadvertently rendered the histories of the ethnic minorities invisible.     

The use of research and theory in English language teaching in Botswana secondary schools

The purpose of this study was to establish the usage of research and theory in the teaching of English language in secondary schools in Botswana. Altogether 100 questionnaires were administered in 19 secondary schools. The results of this study indicate that teachers rarely ever refer to language research in their teaching. Less value was also placed on the theoretical information acquired during training. The respondents indicated that their teaching is essentially based on utilizing their teaching experience and individual creativity.     

论语言科学与语言技术的新思维

当代语言学已经凸显“语言科学”与“语言技术”的二分互补格局，语言技术包括语言本处理技术和语言系统模拟技术。计算语言学是利用计算机作为语言研究工具和探索语言的可计算性问题，同时建构基于计算机科学等相关学科基础之上的语言理论的新学科。面向语言系统模拟的计算语言学研究可比喻为“电脑模拟语言能力工程”或“语言能力移植电脑工程”。第五代计算机研制的搁浅表明，建立在“人一人对话”行为基础上的语形语法学难以完成这一任务。人类语言的本质共性是语义性，语言能力移植电脑工程的基础研究是语义结构网络研究，这一研究可比喻为“语言基因图谱分析工程”。研究对象的语义性转移和研究成果的技术性趋势将成为21世纪的语言学精神。