Introduction: Considerations of Language Mediators of Mathematics Learning

Rodney R. Cocking, José Mestre

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Classical language studies have long been regarded as important components of good academic training, especially during elementary and high school years. This philosophy guided individuals like John Mill in how they educated their own children, as well as providing the cornerstones of many early educational institutions (e.g., Boston Latin). The educational philosophy cast language in a central role for at least three reasons: (a) Language studies involve discipline in learning formal structures, thus promoting the development of structural organization to thought expression; (b) language studies provide an historical perspective that has implications both for language (knowledge of word classes and word origins) and for historical time perspective on the evolution of academic content; and (c) finally, language studies were thought to be important because, by learning the language of the original literature, learners had direct access to others' thinking. Thus, discipline, historical perspective, and access to knowledge were guiding rationales for making language studies a cornerstone to education.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationLinguistic and Cultural Influences on Learning Mathematics
EditorsRodney R Cocking, Jose P Mestre
PublisherTaylor and Francis
Chapter1
Pages3-16
Number of pages14
ISBN (Electronic)9780203056820
ISBN (Print)9780898598766
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1988

Publication series

NameThe Psychology of Education and Instruction

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Introduction: Considerations of Language Mediators of Mathematics Learning'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this