Doing Math in French in Australia.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Doing Math in French in Australia.
Language: English
Authors: de Courcy, Michele, Burston, Monique, Warren, Jane, Young, Paul
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 1997
Document Type: Reports - Descriptive
Speeches/Meeting Papers
Descriptors: Academic Achievement, Cognitive Processes, Comparative Analysis, Elementary Education, English, Foreign Countries, French, Immersion Programs, Language of Instruction, Mathematics Instruction, Second Language Learning, Second Language Programs, Skill Development, Test Construction
Geographic Terms: Australia
Abstract: A study in an early French partial immersion program in a Melbourne (Australia) elementary school investigated participating children's performance in mathematics in English (their first language) and French. Mathematics testing in both languages has been undertaken regularly as part of a long-term evaluation of the program. In the first year of testing (1995), there were no significant difference in results of students taking the test in English or French. However, in 1996 a difference emerged, with grade 5 students taking the test in English doing significantly better than those taking the test in its French version. Item difficulty analyses were conducted to reveal the problematic questions, and a content analysis was performed on the aberrant items. The study revealed new information about how children process mathematics problems in their second language, and provides insights into the development of the students' language in a partial immersion program. (MSE)
Entry Date: 1999
Accession Number: ED422720
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:A study in an early French partial immersion program in a Melbourne (Australia) elementary school investigated participating children's performance in mathematics in English (their first language) and French. Mathematics testing in both languages has been undertaken regularly as part of a long-term evaluation of the program. In the first year of testing (1995), there were no significant difference in results of students taking the test in English or French. However, in 1996 a difference emerged, with grade 5 students taking the test in English doing significantly better than those taking the test in its French version. Item difficulty analyses were conducted to reveal the problematic questions, and a content analysis was performed on the aberrant items. The study revealed new information about how children process mathematics problems in their second language, and provides insights into the development of the students' language in a partial immersion program. (MSE)