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Article published In: Pedagogical Linguistics
Vol. 1:2 (2020) ► pp.125–148

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Towards a functional literacy approach to teach the language of science in the Singapore classroom

 | English Language Institute of Singapore, Ministry of Education
 | English Language and Literature Academic Group, National Institute of Education
Published online: 23 March 2020
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https://doi.org/10.1075/pl.19008.ada
Abstract
This paper describes a pilot study exploring how an approach drawing on systemic functional linguistics can inform science teaching. This study is an exploratory effort between researchers from a linguistics background and secondary school science teachers in the Singapore science classroom. The teachers designed activities in the joint construction of texts to support students’ negotiation of meanings and clarification of conceptual under-​standings. With this, the teachers applied strategies to draw attention to the language of science in their lessons. The study points to the value of the functional literacy approach in science teaching and presents implications on teacher professional learning as well as the role of linguistics in developing disciplinary literacy in students.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Review of literature
  • 3.Methodology
    • 3.1Adrian: Understanding current teaching practices with a FL lens
    • 3.2Brenda: Understanding current teaching practices with a FL lens
    • 3.3Data sources and analysis procedures
  • 4.Findings
    • 4.1Harnessing the FL approach on the joint construction of texts: Adrian
    • 4.2Harnessing the FL approach on the joint construction of texts: Brenda
    • 4.3Benefits
  • 5.Discussion
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Declaration of interest statement
  • References
References (48)
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Cited by (3)

Cited by three other publications

Tseng, Jun-Jie
2025. Using visual scaffolding to enhance the comprehensibility of English materials in science education: A genre-based approach. Journal of English for Academic Purposes 75 ► pp. 101500 ff. DOI logo
Lim, Fei Victor
2024. Thinking and Talking About Digital News in the Singapore Secondary English Classroom: a Pilot Study. English Teaching & Learning 48:1 ► pp. 97 ff. DOI logo
Adams, Jonathon & Fei Victor Lim
2022. Raising Science Teachers’ Language Awareness: A Functional Literacy Approach to Teaching Science. In The Role of Language in Content Pedagogy [Studies in Singapore Education: Research, Innovation & Practice, 4], ► pp. 45 ff. DOI logo

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