Susan Ballinger

Content-based language teaching: Convergent concerns across divergent contexts

This article serves as the introduction to this special issue of Language Teaching Research on content-based language teaching (CBLT). The article first provides an illustrative overview of the myriad contexts in which CBLT has been implemented and then homes in on the five studies comprising the special issue, each conducted in a distinct instructional setting: two-way Spanish—English immersion in the USA, English-medium ‘nature and society’ lessons taught at a middle school in China, English-medium math and science classes in Malaysian high schools, English-medium history classes in high schools in Spain, and ‘sheltered instruction’ classes for English language learners in US schools. In spite of such divergent contexts, the five studies converge to underscore the pivotal role played by teachers in CBLT and the concomitant need for professional development to support them in meeting some of the challenges specific to CBLT.

Student and teacher oral language use in a two-way Spanish/English immersion school

This study examines the Spanish use of students and teachers at a US two-way immersion school. Students and teachers from Grades 1, 3, and 8 (5—6-year-olds, 7—8-years-olds, and 12—13-yearolds, respectively) were observed and interviewed, and students completed questionnaires to determine what factors influenced their language of choice and their divergence from Spanish when it was the language of instruction. Although students showed an overall preference for English, particularly in interactions with peers, findings indicate that students’ language background, culturally relevant teaching activities, teacher language use, and students’ sensitivity to others’ need for language accommodation influenced their use of Spanish with peers.

Raising language awareness in peer interaction: a cross-context, cross-methodology examination

In this paper, both a cognitive and a sociocultural theoretical perspective are used to bring together findings from two studies that investigated the effects of instruction designed to enhance the potentially positive effect of peer interaction on L2 development. Despite differences between the studies’ learning contexts, participants’ age, and research design, a comparative examination of their findings promotes our overall understanding of whether and how instruction that teaches students to engage in reciprocal L2 learning can be effective. In Study 1, Japanese university students were taught how to provide corrective feedback to each other during communicative peer interaction activities. Pre- and post-tests were administered and statistical analyses were conducted on the change in frequency of corrective feedback and self-initiated modified output as well as in overall accuracy of spontaneous production. In Study 2, Grade 3 and 4 Canadian French immersion students were given strategy instruction to collaborate on task- and language-related problems. Their audio-recorded interactions were qualitatively analysed for contextual factors affecting peer corrective feedback. Based on the combined findings, it is concluded that language awareness can be enhanced through peer interaction but a reciprocal mindset among learners plays a significant role in deciding its outcome.

Examining Peer Language Use and Investment in a Distinct North American Immersion Context.

ABSTRACT Previous studies have shown that immersion students tend to speak the majority language during peer interactions, regardless of the language of instruction or their dominant language. Researchers have argued that the societal status of the majority language presents an obstacle to providing equitable support for both languages of instruction. To examine the effects of societal language status on students’ language use and identity investment, this study quantified students’ English and French language use in Quebec French immersion classrooms, a context where both languages of instruction hold equitable societal status. A microanalysis of their divergences from the languages of instruction was also undertaken using Norton’s model of investment. This study sheds light on how language status works at the societal, classroom, and individual level to impact learners’ classroom language use. Findings emphasize the importance of using both languages of instruction outside of school for development of learners’ bilingual proficiency and bilingual identity.