Repositori URV

Identifier: TDX:1672

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX1672

Authors:
Scott-Tennent Basallote, Cristóbal

Abstract:
This 'Action research' was carried out with 2 main aims in mind:1. To design, within the framework of the (then) new Catalan/Spanish comprehensive secondary education, a ('Content-Based') process model for developing, through the study of non-linguistic content (expressed in the foreign language), the capacity to use the corresponding foreign language (FL).By interactively processing the corresponding information (expressed in the FL) the learner builds up a mental schema of the target content (consisting of a structured set of interrelated concepts, cognitive skills and procedures, together with its corresponding specific language). Thus, the student's use of the FL is not only communicative, but cognitive as well: s/he applies subsidiary cognitive and academic skills and abilities which will be transferable to the rest of the curriculum (e.g. conceptual thinking -crucial to the adolescent's development-, information processing, the linguistic processes of informing, generalizing and evaluating, etc.). This type of model had previously only been applied in Second Language (SL) contexts (and in quite a different way).2. To obtain empirical evidence, by means of a pilot study and subsequent full-scale study (both using 30-hour teaching units created by the researcher), regarding the experimental model's potential to generate satisfactory and/or beneficial processes in the classroom. The researcher was helped to design the study by experts in educational research, as well as by Mr. Tom Hutchinson (Lancaster University, UK)The process of designing the experimental (Content-Based) FLT model required, in the first place, informed decisions as to the following key points:1. Students' minimum prerequisite competence in the FL.2. Which type of contents would be most suitable.3.