Language in Teacher Education

Introduction

Language is central in science teacher education from several points of view: (i) the appropriate use of language strategies in teaching science which need to be modeled by teacher educators and (ii) the importance of language awareness of the preservice teachers themselves as teachers of language and science. Each is considered in detail below.

Language Strategies

At the most basic level, the choice of language strategies is connected to the realization of increasing diversity of linguistic backgrounds of learners in schools. In developed countries this is due to immigration from other countries, and in developing countries, the indigenous population are often learning through a language other than the one they speak at home. According to Yore and Treagust (2006), teachers have been compelled to help students navigate among three different languages – home language, instructional language, and science language. Most learners confront this problem when they move from...