Improving text for English second language biology pupils

Abstract

The language used in some African school science textbooks is too advanced for many of the pupils. A description of the breathing mechanism from a biology textbook used by Year 12 (17+ years) pupils in Lebowa, South Africa, is presented for modification. The objective is to use recent relevant research findings to improve its language for use by Lebowan pupils, learning science in English as a second language (EL2). To increase its suitability for biology pupils whose mother tongue, Northern Sotho, is unrelated to English, appropriate modifications of the text are recommended. These are justified in terms of current theories and principles of reading comprehension.

Keywords:

• Text
• English
• Second language
• Biology pupils