Learning in an additional or second language can be a challenge to students, whether in or out of the classroom. Science can pose a particular challenge, as a content-based subject with large amounts of technical vocabulary to acquire.
In the current climate with students spending much time in solitary study, this can be an added concern. You may question whether your students are fully comprehending all of the key content and vocabulary. Especially at secondary level, as the science content increases in complexity, we don’t want language to be a bar to students’ learning. In this blog post we have collated advice, strategies, free downloads and videos from Sally Burbeary and Mark Winterbottom, to support you and your students.
Download our presentation below to discover some of the key English issues when learning science and some solutions for you to try with your students to adopt for their home studies.
Teaching secondary science to English as a second language learners with Sally Burbeary
The four skills
Using vocabulary in context
Dr Mark Winterbottom is our pedagogy consultant on the new Cambridge International AS & A Level science series and co-leads the secondary PGCE course at the Faculty of Education. His research interests are learning through inquiry, and ‘out-of-the-classroom’ approaches to science education.
Sally Burbeary is an experienced education consultant specialising in English as an additional language. She is the English as a Second language consultant for our science series.