While translanguaging has been adequately researched in various educational sectors, there is scant research at the primary-level English-L2 classroom in the Chinese educational context. Within a monolingual English-only immersion policy favoured by the state in China for many decades now, translanguaging has been a debated issue recently. Within…

Despite Estonia being ranked among the highest performing nations in the world-wide testing of students, these encouraging results are somewhat overshadowed by the challenge to overcome the divided school system with different languages of learning that impacts crucially on students' social, academic and professional paths. The study examines…

This article presents findings of a qualitative study about students' language ideologies in a transitional bilingual education (TBE) programme located in the US-Mexico border. Although officially regarded as 'TBE', results show that both ideologies and practices resemble an English monolingual form of education where only the English language is…

This paper tackles the important question of practitioner engagement and is the first to present an overview of relevant Gaelic medium education (GME) research. Following the formal inception in 1985, GME is now more widely available across Scotland. An overview of GME is presented and situates provision within the other Celtic minority languages…

Greater China is used in this article to refer to mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Macao. While a holistic approach is adopted to present and compare the rapid spread of English and development in English language education in these geographically close, and sociopolitically, culturally and economically interrelated but hugely…

Globalisation processes, often accused of imposing uniformity the world over, also open up opportunities for minorities (including linguistic ones) to exploit a variety of spaces for self-definition and self-expression. The expansion in the use of minority languages in public signage is one consequence of this present phase of reorientation in…

Examination of the correctness of expression of Hong Kong secondary school students in English immersion courses found that, while most pupils obtained average grades in Chinese composition writing, the majority performed below average in English composition writing, and that many pupils lacked the communicative competence to write effectively in…

Examines the provision of Catalan and the use of Catalan as a medium of instruction in Catalonia's education system at all levels. A discussion focuses on whether resources and the support from the community are sufficient, and whether the policy favors Catalan aggressively enough to prevent Castilian remaining always the dominant partner. (22…

Considers the pedagogical validity of English immersion education in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, Melanesian countries of the South Pacific. Questions the appropriateness of implementing a policy of English language immersion education in a postcolonial, multilingual Third World context where support for first language maintenance and second…

Describes several preschool, elementary, and high school Maori immersion and bilingual programs in New Zealand, focusing on how the programs define and establish Maori space in the schools, local and tribal concerns, and the basis for the revitalization of the language. (29 references) (Author/CB)

Responses of 118 Cantonese-speaking students at Hong Kong English-medium secondary schools to a questionnaire indicated those factors that contribute to the ineffectiveness of the English-medium education include: (1) lack of exposure to English outside the classroom; (2) absence of the Hawthorne effect on the immersion programs; and (3)…

Presents a longitudinal examination of the effects of certain types of schooling (bilingual, immersion, mixed-language) on the concept development of monolingual, developing bilingual, or competent bilingual children in Wales. Results indicated that immersion programs temporarily retarded concept development of second language beginners.…

The British Columbia French Speaking Test, administered to grade 3 immersion students, measured their speaking skills through a story- retelling and group discussion task. When 110 immersion children were compared to 25 Francophone children, results indicated that the immersion children were comparable to the francophones in communicative skills…

Presents an overview of Gaelic immersion programs in operation in Scotland and of the models in which they are deployed. The article highlights the teaching methods used and outlines the views and experiences of classroom teachers and the parent body. Findings reveal that the teachers want more resources and the parents are highly supportive.…