Language Use in L2 English Multilingual Secondary School Classrooms: A Comparative Study

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 2
  In Poster Session: Second Language Research SIG Poster Session

Abstract

Traditionally, languages have been separated in the school context and research lacks agreement on the extent to which the first language (L1) should be used during second language (L2) instruction. The significance of this paper is the contribution of new knowledge from multilingual secondary classrooms in Scandinavia, comparing video observation data of naturally occurring instruction and interaction across five classrooms. Documenting how and how much different languages are used in multilingual L2 English lessons, findings indicate little variation regarding L1-L2 alternation. Also when L1 was used, similarities were found related to language functions of the L1, such as scaffolding. Somewhat surprisingly, there was no use of languages other than the official L1 and the target language (English).

Authors

• Lisbeth M Brevik, University of Oslo

• Pia Sundqvist, University of Oslo

• Erica Sandlund, Karlstad University

• Ulrikke Rindal, University of Oslo