Influence of mother tongue (Chope) on teaching and learning in science education: a Mozambican study about fundamental electrical concepts
Date
2016-07-14
Authors
Baquete, Aguiar Muambalane
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Abstract
This research report investigates the influence of Chope (a native
Mozambican language) on the teaching and learning of fundamental electric'
concepts.
Two research instruments were used: a written task and an interview. The
written task investigated students' understanding, in Chope and Portuguese
(the instructional language), of twenty fundamental electric concepts, as well
as translations of scientific sentences about electricity from Portuguese to
Chope. The interview was used as an auxiliary instrument to better
understand procedures used in the written task.
The study showed that Chope as prior knowledge can be understood in three
ways: (1) as a positive influence when knowledge acquired through Chope is
scientifically acceptable; (2) as a negative influence when a Chope
"definition" hinders understanding of an electric concept; and (3) as an
auxiliary agent in the understanding of the precise meanings of electrical
terms. There are however other influences such as childhood environment
and common usage.
Description
A research report
in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for the degree of
Master of Science
(by coursework and research report)
in the
School of Science Education
of the
University of the Witwatersrand.
March 1998