Mathematics is a language
• Math is a new language for all learners.
• There are many words that we use that have similar meanings in
conversational English, like "reduce" or ' 'similar"
• Some words have completely different meanings than they do in
conversational English, like "product", or "function"
• Some words are specific to mathematics: "Numerator" or
"exponent"
• It usually takes an EAL learner more than one year to develop
conversational language and five to seven years to develop
sufficient academic language to learn in English
• Canadian students already struggle with the symbol rich language
of mathematics, but have been exposed to some of the language;
EAL learners are learning the language of instruction and the
content simultaneously
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