Australian Vietnamese Students Learning Mathematics: High Ability Bilinguals and Their Use of Their Languages

• Published in: Educational studies in mathematics Vol. 64; no. 2; pp. 191 - 215
• Main Author: Clarkson, Philip C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 01-02-2007
• Subjects: Academic Ability; Australia; Bilingual Students; Bilingualism; Code switching (Language); Educational research; Foreign Countries; Interviews; Language comprehension; Language translation; Language Usage; Learning; Mathematical problems; Mathematical thinking; Mathematics education; Mathematics Skills; Mathematics teachers; Measures (Individuals); Metalinguistics; Non English speaking background; Primary education; Primary school mathematics; Problem Solving; Second language learning; Vietnamese Australians; Vietnamese People; Australia
• ISSN: 0013-1954; 1573-0816
• DOI: 10.1007/s10649-006-4696-5

Bilingual students have, at times, been thought to be at a disadvantage in learning mathematics because of an assumed interference between their two languages. Earlier research, confirmed again in this study, shows that this is a naive view to take. Although some bilingual students do have a harder time, others seem to be at an advantage. This study explores the use that bilingual students who are succeeding in mathematics make of their two languages. These students seem to have better metalinguistics skills that allow them to self-correct when solving problems, and are perhaps more confident in their approach to solving difficult problems. It also appears that students in this study switched between languages in early years of schooling, but only used English by the time they were completing elementary school.