Teaching in English Linked to Worse Results and More Drop-Outs
A Swedish study found that those taking a programming course in English, rather than their native Swedish, performed worse and had higher dropout rates, raising questions about the efficacy of English Medium Instruction (EMI) in non-English speaking countries. The study’s rigorous random assignment isolated language as the key factor influencing lower test scores and completion rates in the English-instructed group.
https://scitechdaily.com/teaching-in-english-linked-to-worse-results-and-more-drop-outs/ #RuhRo #English #language #DropOuts #education
@Nonog I speak six languages, one very well, one quite well, four badly.
Why is this a surprise to them? I'm good at languages, and yet I sound less intelligent in my best non-native language and positively moronic in my others - and I've been speaking French for over 50 years.
And learning how to program is hard. Sometimes even smart people have trouble.
Yes, full-time programming jobs are mostly in English. So what? Don't torture kids because of that.
@TomSwirly
Exactly. I don't see how this even warrants a study. I guess they're just confirming common sense?
Learn skills in your native language, you can still do a job in English later.
@lazysupper @Nonog Oh, common sense is often wrong. It might have been different in the real world, though it would have been surprising...
@Nonog
Linguist Stephen Krashen did a review of immersion program studies some years ago & found that they do not serve students well.
In my experience as an ESL teacher, I see it. There's a lot of background knowledge & language required for learning, esp at higher levels. Without that, or a way to compensate, it's immensely difficult to bridge the divide between where the students are and the learning goals.