Using visual representations to enhance isiXhosa home language learners’ mathematical understanding

South African Journal of Childhood Education

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Using visual representations to enhance isiXhosa home language learners’ mathematical understanding
 
Creator Coetzer, Tanja Livingston, Candice Barnard, Elna
 
Subject — English language of learning and teaching (LoLT); Grade 1 classrooms; isiXhosa home language learners; mathematical understanding; visual representations
Description Background: Several isiXhosa home language (HL) learners are excluded from meaningful mathematics learning because they are taught in English. Not only do teachers lack epistemological and pedagogical confidence in using multiple languages when teaching mathematics, but there are no mathematical registers for African languages that allow for adequate mathematical teaching and learning. There is a scarcity of research on what constitutes effective mathematics instruction for isiXhosa HL learners in South African language of learning and teaching (LoLT) Grade 1 classrooms.Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Grade 1 teachers using visual representations to enhance isiXhosa HL learners’ understanding of mathematics in the English- LoLT in Grade 1 classrooms.Setting: This study was conducted at four primary schools in the Western Cape’s Metro East Education District.Methods: This study employs a qualitative research approach in conjunction with an adapted interactive qualitative analysis (IQA) systems method to collect in-depth data about current mathematics practices in English LoLT in Grade 1 classrooms. The data were analysed using John Stuart Mill’s analytical comparison technique.Results: This study found that semiotics such as visual (and concrete) representations assist isiXhosa HL learners to grasp and understand mathematical concepts easily.Conclusion: This study emphasises the significance of using sufficient visual representation strategies to enhance isiXhosa HL learners’ mathematical understanding in the English LoLT in Grade 1 classrooms.Contribution: The outcomes of this study can make a positive contribution to current mathematics practice in terms of supporting isiXhosa HL learners in English LoLT in Grade 1 classrooms.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2023-08-30
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — —
Format text/html application/epub+zip text/xml application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajce.v13i1.1297
 
Source South African Journal of Childhood Education; Vol 13, No 1 (2023); 8 pages 2223-7682 2223-7674
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1297/2457 https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1297/2458 https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1297/2459 https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce/article/view/1297/2460
 
Coverage Western Cape — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2023 Tanja Coetzer, Candice Livingston, Elna Barnard https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ADVERTISEMENT