Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
10315929 | Linguistics and Education | 2005 | 22 Pages |
Abstract
This article uses a functional view of language to frame and analyze issues of language and content in mainstream classrooms. Describing a Western Canadian grade one/two science class, it examines how a teacher and her class of young ESL students were able to build up a simple theory of magnetism in a scientific register, link its technical terms to their practical experience, and apply the theory to explain and extend their experience of magnets. She thus created a new blend of theory and practice in their activity of doing science. The study demonstrates the value of a functional perspective on social practice, leading to a sharper understanding of issues of language and content learning in mainstream classrooms and a greater ability to analyze relevant data. Educational implications include a richer understanding of the connections between students' practical experience and their theoretical understanding.
Keywords
Related Topics
Social Sciences and Humanities
Arts and Humanities
Language and Linguistics
Authors
Bernard Mohan, Tammy Slater,