Full Text Available

Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.

Integrating language and content in mainstream biology classrooms - the experiences of English language learners

Globalization has vastly enhanced the mobility of people and ideas, in turn changing the world’s educational landscape and increasing the proportion of nonnative English speakers within English learning environments. Although research exists on English Language Learner (ELL) pedagogies and on intern...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Tawfik, Yasmeen
Format: Thesis
Published: AUC Knowledge Fountain 2017
Subjects:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1867613418343628800
access_status_str Open Access
author Tawfik, Yasmeen
author_browse Tawfik, Yasmeen
author_facet Tawfik, Yasmeen
author_sort Tawfik, Yasmeen
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy. The author has granted the American University in Cairo or its agents a non-exclusive license to archive this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study, and to make it accessible, in whole or in part, in all forms of media, now or hereafter known.
description Globalization has vastly enhanced the mobility of people and ideas, in turn changing the world’s educational landscape and increasing the proportion of nonnative English speakers within English learning environments. Although research exists on English Language Learner (ELL) pedagogies and on international education as two separate bodies, few studies have examined the experiences of ELLs learning science within the multicultural environment of international schools. The purpose of the study is to answer three questions: 1) ELLs experience the integration of language and content within mainstream science classes? 2) Which, if any, aspects of their classroom experience do they find problematic, and which, if any, do they find conducive to learning Biology in English? 3) How do mainstream teachers experience the immersion of ELLs within their classes? Qualitative means are employed to explore these questions, uncovering several findings. Firstly, the data reiterates the central role of language as a mediator for learning, in any discipline. Secondly, the importance of native language to both additional language acquisition and learning Biology is highlighted. Similarly, the importance of communicative competence, especially in scientific expression is supported by the data. Time, pace, and differentiation were also found to be fundamental aspects that require careful consideration in the design and delivery of international exam courses. Finally, the importance of fostering a supportive learning environment that promotes high self-efficacy among students is reiterated.
format Thesis
id oai:fount.aucegypt.edu:etds-2421
institution American University in Cairo (Egypt)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:35:48.888Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from AUC Knowledge Fountain — bepress
publishDate 2017
publishDateRange 2017
publishDateSort 2017
publisher AUC Knowledge Fountain
publisherStr AUC Knowledge Fountain
record_format dspace
source_str AUC Knowledge Fountain — bepress
spelling oai:fount.aucegypt.edu:etds-2421 Integrating language and content in mainstream biology classrooms - the experiences of English language learners Tawfik, Yasmeen Globalization has vastly enhanced the mobility of people and ideas, in turn changing the world’s educational landscape and increasing the proportion of nonnative English speakers within English learning environments. Although research exists on English Language Learner (ELL) pedagogies and on international education as two separate bodies, few studies have examined the experiences of ELLs learning science within the multicultural environment of international schools. The purpose of the study is to answer three questions: 1) ELLs experience the integration of language and content within mainstream science classes? 2) Which, if any, aspects of their classroom experience do they find problematic, and which, if any, do they find conducive to learning Biology in English? 3) How do mainstream teachers experience the immersion of ELLs within their classes? Qualitative means are employed to explore these questions, uncovering several findings. Firstly, the data reiterates the central role of language as a mediator for learning, in any discipline. Secondly, the importance of native language to both additional language acquisition and learning Biology is highlighted. Similarly, the importance of communicative competence, especially in scientific expression is supported by the data. Time, pace, and differentiation were also found to be fundamental aspects that require careful consideration in the design and delivery of international exam courses. Finally, the importance of fostering a supportive learning environment that promotes high self-efficacy among students is reiterated. 2017-05-26T07:00:00Z thesis application/pdf https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/1421 https://fount.aucegypt.edu/context/etds/article/2421/viewcontent/TAWFIK_20THESIS_20SPRING_2015.pdf The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy. The author has granted the American University in Cairo or its agents a non-exclusive license to archive this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study, and to make it accessible, in whole or in part, in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. Theses and Dissertations AUC Knowledge Fountain science education language CALP learning integration
spellingShingle science
education
language
CALP
learning
integration
Tawfik, Yasmeen
Integrating language and content in mainstream biology classrooms - the experiences of English language learners
title Integrating language and content in mainstream biology classrooms - the experiences of English language learners
title_full Integrating language and content in mainstream biology classrooms - the experiences of English language learners
title_fullStr Integrating language and content in mainstream biology classrooms - the experiences of English language learners
title_full_unstemmed Integrating language and content in mainstream biology classrooms - the experiences of English language learners
title_short Integrating language and content in mainstream biology classrooms - the experiences of English language learners
title_sort integrating language and content in mainstream biology classrooms the experiences of english language learners
topic science
education
language
CALP
learning
integration
url https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/1421
https://fount.aucegypt.edu/context/etds/article/2421/viewcontent/TAWFIK_20THESIS_20SPRING_2015.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT tawfikyasmeen integratinglanguageandcontentinmainstreambiologyclassroomstheexperiencesofenglishlanguagelearners