Making multi-modal mathematical meaning in multilingual classrooms

Farsani, Danyal (2015). Making multi-modal mathematical meaning in multilingual classrooms. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This thesis investigates communication (verbal and nonverbal) in a bilingual (Farsi-English) complementary school mathematics’ classroom. The study examines gestures were used as a resource for teaching mathematics in a bilingual setting, enabling intercolutors to construct meaning and mediate understanding. That is, the ways in which language and gesture can be seen as resources in supporting and conveying mathematical ideas is described. I investigated a number of verbal and nonverbal resources and show how these are culturally and socially shaped. I also explored how modes of communication are employed in creating mathematical meaning in a bilingual classroom context. A multimodality framework was adopted to analyse data which included audio and video recordings, observations and interviews with teachers and pupils. I found that gestures were employed to convey aspects of the mathematical register and how these were used to amplify what interlocutors were expressing verbally. Furthermore, I identified that different languages activated a different conceptual understanding of the same mathematical concept which was reflected through the students’ and teachers’ gestures.

Type of Work: Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)
Award Type: Doctorates > Ph.D.
Supervisor(s):
Supervisor(s)EmailORCID
Hewitt, DaveUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Creese, AngelaUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Licence:
College/Faculty: Colleges (2008 onwards) > College of Social Sciences
School or Department: School of Education
Funders: None/not applicable
Subjects: L Education > LB Theory and practice of education
P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics
URI: http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/5752

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