Making Use of Multiple (Non-shared) First Languages: State of and Need for Research and Development in the European Language Context

• Published in: Mathematics Education and Language Diversity pp. 47 - 66
• Main Authors: Meyer, Michael, Prediger, Susanne, César, Margarida, Norén, Eva
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Springer International Publishing AG 2015; Springer International Publishing
• Series: New ICMI Study Series
• Subjects: Agency; Cultural dimension; Emigration; European Union; Immigration; matematikämnets didaktik; Mathematics Education; Monolingual classroom norms; Plurilingualism; Political dimension; Teaching of a specific subject; Teaching skills & techniques
• ISBN: 331914510X; 9783319145105; 9783319145112; 3319145118
• ISSN: 1387-6872; 2215-1745
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-14511-2_3

Wide empirical evidence and theoretical explanations show that first languages are important resources for increasing access to mathematics for learners whose first language is not the language of instruction. Whereas including the first language is well established in many countries outside Europe, especially those with shared first languages, most European classrooms deal with five or more (non-shared) first languages without making use of them. This chapter explores the specific European language context and its cultural, political, and institutional dimensions. We report practices of including first languages and report on European research into its effects and conditions.