Language-mixing in Content and Language Integrated Learning: benefit or burden? An auditory recall perspective

Recent pedagogical trends have seen a revival in language-mixing in CLIL contexts, thereby challenging the traditional ‘one subject-one language’ approach. From a cognitive standpoint, recent research indicates that the disadvantages of language mixing may not be as significant as previously thought...

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Main Authors: Thomas Caira, Mathieu Declerck, Esli Struys
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2024.1520791/full
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author Thomas Caira
Mathieu Declerck
Esli Struys
author_facet Thomas Caira
Mathieu Declerck
Esli Struys
author_sort Thomas Caira
collection DOAJ
description Recent pedagogical trends have seen a revival in language-mixing in CLIL contexts, thereby challenging the traditional ‘one subject-one language’ approach. From a cognitive standpoint, recent research indicates that the disadvantages of language mixing may not be as significant as previously thought. This is further supported by studies showing no negative effects of language-mixing on immediate memory recall in CLIL pupils. Using an Old/New recognition task design, participants in the present study had to differentiate between previously defined concepts and new ones in three different language contexts (i.e., single-language L1; single-language L2 and a mixed context). We also accounted for delayed recall with a second test phase 36 hours after the first one. Response times and accurate recall scores were retained for further analysis. Our findings reveal a nuanced picture: we found that mixed-language input negatively impacts immediate and delayed recall of information compared to L1 input. However, mixed-language input also brings about better recall of information compared to L2 input. It seems that language-mixing thus partly mitigates the disadvantage in auditory recall that occurs in a single-language L2 context. Overall, these results suggest a need to reconsider the effects of language-mixing on memory and, consequently, nuance its role in CLIL practices.
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spelling doaj-art-14bade46114145b5bca50ea4c25451ee2025-01-24T13:34:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Education2504-284X2025-01-01910.3389/feduc.2024.15207911520791Language-mixing in Content and Language Integrated Learning: benefit or burden? An auditory recall perspectiveThomas CairaMathieu DeclerckEsli StruysRecent pedagogical trends have seen a revival in language-mixing in CLIL contexts, thereby challenging the traditional ‘one subject-one language’ approach. From a cognitive standpoint, recent research indicates that the disadvantages of language mixing may not be as significant as previously thought. This is further supported by studies showing no negative effects of language-mixing on immediate memory recall in CLIL pupils. Using an Old/New recognition task design, participants in the present study had to differentiate between previously defined concepts and new ones in three different language contexts (i.e., single-language L1; single-language L2 and a mixed context). We also accounted for delayed recall with a second test phase 36 hours after the first one. Response times and accurate recall scores were retained for further analysis. Our findings reveal a nuanced picture: we found that mixed-language input negatively impacts immediate and delayed recall of information compared to L1 input. However, mixed-language input also brings about better recall of information compared to L2 input. It seems that language-mixing thus partly mitigates the disadvantage in auditory recall that occurs in a single-language L2 context. Overall, these results suggest a need to reconsider the effects of language-mixing on memory and, consequently, nuance its role in CLIL practices.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2024.1520791/fulllanguage-mixingCLILlanguage controlcognitiontranslanguagingcode-switching
spellingShingle Thomas Caira
Mathieu Declerck
Esli Struys
Language-mixing in Content and Language Integrated Learning: benefit or burden? An auditory recall perspective
Frontiers in Education
language-mixing
CLIL
language control
cognition
translanguaging
code-switching
title Language-mixing in Content and Language Integrated Learning: benefit or burden? An auditory recall perspective
title_full Language-mixing in Content and Language Integrated Learning: benefit or burden? An auditory recall perspective
title_fullStr Language-mixing in Content and Language Integrated Learning: benefit or burden? An auditory recall perspective
title_full_unstemmed Language-mixing in Content and Language Integrated Learning: benefit or burden? An auditory recall perspective
title_short Language-mixing in Content and Language Integrated Learning: benefit or burden? An auditory recall perspective
title_sort language mixing in content and language integrated learning benefit or burden an auditory recall perspective
topic language-mixing
CLIL
language control
cognition
translanguaging
code-switching
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2024.1520791/full
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AT mathieudeclerck languagemixingincontentandlanguageintegratedlearningbenefitorburdenanauditoryrecallperspective
AT eslistruys languagemixingincontentandlanguageintegratedlearningbenefitorburdenanauditoryrecallperspective