Language is essential for making meaning in written communication, and argument writing is a key genre of schooling to which language contributes rich resources for constructing different types of arguments. Despite being a challenging language practice, argument writing research lacks investigation into the language demands of this writing genre.…

Despite proficient math skills, students may struggle to make sense of and solve story problems. While educators are encouraged to promote the use of comprehension strategies, students must first understand vocabulary at all levels as they work to make sense of and solve math story problems. Language skills are a prerequisite for schema…

This study aims to evaluate the implementation of Religious Education in elementary schools using the mother tongue as the primary medium of instruction. The study is motivated by the low internalization of moral values among students, despite religious lessons being conducted routinely. The mother tongue was chosen as the approach because it is…

Natural language is known to play a crucial and specific role for children's learning in school mathematics. Not only does it carry special vocabulary, but subtle differences between natural languages may lead to surprising challenges, for instance, for learners who are not taught mathematics in their mother tongue. In this paper, the…

This study describes the development of a Korean assessment instrument measuring adults' basic literacy ability. Instrument items were generated from a literature review, inputs from experts through the Delphi method, and focus group interviews. Items and measurement procedures were tested and confirmed through three steps of pilot…

Early-grade learners build on their preschool numeracy competence with vocabulary and grammar of their home language as important semiotic tools. In this study, the performance of two samples of Grade 2 learners, who completed the MARKO-D SA interview-based test of number concept development, were assessed. The results showed that participants (n…

Little is known about young CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) learners' attention to formal aspects of the target language when engaged in collaborative task-based interaction. Previous research on language-related episodes (LREs) with other populations indicates that certain variables (e.g. target language proficiency or pair…

This paper illustrates utilising cultural historical activity theory (CHAT) and the methodology of formative intervention as a responsive capacity-building framework for enhancing science teachers' professional development and system-level capacity in multilingual settings. We report findings from the initial Change Laboratory (CL) meetings of an…

This Case Study is based on research conducted in a higher-education institution in the United Kingdom. It examines the role of spoken language and how aspects of three different levels mediate learning: interpersonal (i.e., dialogue and personal information/interaction), sociohistorical (i.e., learning about the culture, traditions, and history…

Language is a fundamental tool for learning science. This study highlights the importance of teacher knowledge in utilising language as a tool for knowledge generation in the classrooms. This case study examines elementary teachers' development of declarative, procedural, and epistemic knowledge related to using language, particularly focusing on…

In this paper we compare the early years mathematics curricula of Germany, South Africa, and Australia in relation to the place value concept. Place value is an important topic as it underpins much of the number work completed by learners in the early years of schooling. We found that there were differences between the three curricula that could…

Purpose: We investigated the role of spoken language in the acquisition of literacy in the context of Arabic diglossia, where the written language, Standard Arabic, deviates substantially from the spoken language, Colloquial Arabic, children acquire naturally from birth. Method: The participants (N = 110; 40 girls) were Saudi Arabic--speaking…

This paper addresses 'distractions' in the way English language education is discussed and practiced in one of the most debated systems of education in the world today: Finnish primary education. Distractions are considered as 'makers of disturbance' in educational ideologies by the authors. Examining the 2014 National Core Curriculum and…

The present study examined the production of inalienable possession with body parts in Spanish among 20 school-age children of Mexican-born parents born and raised in the United States. The results were compared to those of 20 first-generation immigrant parents (main input providers), 27 Spanish-dominant children of similar age, and 12 Spanish…

This exploratory study reports on the implementation of a novel web-based multilingual learning platform. This tool allows content to be delivered in different languages simultaneously, including languages of the students. In addition, it creates access to content knowledge aligned to the local curriculum, and in doing so, responds to an emerging…