Teachers’ Perspectives on Addressing Linguistic Factors Affecting Visualisation of Mathematics Word Problems
Matshidiso Mirriam Moleko 1 *
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1 University of the Free State, SOUTH AFRICA* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Visualisation plays a critical role in the teaching and learning of mathematics word problems. It is an essential tool for enabling learners to create meaningful mental pictures necessary for solving mathematical problems. Appropriate visualisation requires good reading skills, English proficiency and an understanding of mathematical vocabulary, language and structure. Although visualisation plays such a critical role, teachers often do not pay attention to linguistic factors when teaching mathematics word problems, thus making it difficult for learners to visualise and solve mathematics word problems. This background positions the study to explore teachers’ perspectives on the linguistic factors that affect the visualisation of mathematics word problems and to identify appropriate solutions to these. Using a single-case exploratory study, the perspectives of six mathematics teachers were elicited through focus group discussions and reflection sessions. The data collected were analysed through thematic analysis techniques. The findings indicate strategies to address the lack of reading skills, including understanding mathematical language and the structure and ambiguities of mathematics word problems.

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, Volume 17, Issue 11, November 2021, Article No: em2029

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/11248

Publication date: 05 Oct 2021

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Article Downloads: 1902

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