Young bilingual Swedish learners in the English classroom : A study comparing the learners and teachers language use

This paper investigates and identifies patterns of classroom languages use by both learners and teachers in the English learning classroom. In order to answer the research questions guiding the present study, data were collected both from learners (n= 36) and their teachers (n= 3). The instruments employed in the data collection were two, namely a questionnaire (administered to the learners), and a classroom observation grid (used with the teachers). The questionnaire is a survey, and as such a quantitative method. And, the observations are however qualitative. One of the main findings in the study was the correlation in pattern of language use between the teacher’s and the learners. More precisely, it was found that a high percentage of English use on the part of the teacher resulted in a high percentage of this language also in the learners. It was also found that the teachers’ use of both Swedish and English in instruction giving resulted in a higher use of English by the learners, perhaps because the learners were able to understand the instructions better if translanguaging occurred. Another important finding of the study is that learners reported not to be allowed nor encouraged to use their mother tongue as a resource. Besides, most of the learners did not think that using all of their languages would be an advantage in L3 learning English