A study on the extent of the bilingual practices and methodology applied in bilingual science classrooms: a case study in Badulla district

Abstract

Sri Lankan Bilingual Education is a newly implemented program in selected schools in Sri Lanka. It is equally novel to both bilingual students as well as teachers in the education system.

The objectives of the study were to ascertain how co-operative learning occurs in bilingual science classes, how the parents ' involvement affects in bilingual science classes, what the bilingual teaching learning method was , how far the bi-literacy gets developed in bilingual science classes and how code switching occurs in bilingual science classes.

The study was conducted in selected six schools in Bandarawela and Badulla districts. In each zone, three schools including two mixed schools along with one boys ' or girls ' school were used to collect data for the study. All schools were lAB, urban schools.

For analyzing purpose both quantitative and qualitative data were used by the researcher. A questionnaire given to bilingual students was analyzed for quantitative findings while class observation, interviews with students and teachers and field notes of the researcher were used in qualitative purpose. Quantitative analysis supported the conclusion s of parents ' involvement, most used bilingual teaching learning method, bi-literacy level of students, and code switching and how frequently it is switched are being found. Parents ' involvement has no affect with any variable, school affects the teaching learning method and bi-literacy development, number of siblings has no effect with bilingual science learning, scholarship has an effect with bilingual learning and residence has no effect for the learner are some important qualitative findings . Also co-operative learning happen s in group learning, teacher dominated classrooms, teachers using more second language for instruction and teachers switch the code within every two minutes are important qualitative findings . It is a good study to find how the original concept being applied in other districts, too.