Browsing by Subject "förståelse"

The purpose of this study is to achieve a deeper understanding about how pedagogues have used Alternative and Augmentative Communication methods (AAC-methods) with children at the start of language immersion, when a mutual language has not existed yet and how it still is used although a mutual language develops. The purpose of the study is also to find out how these methods are used to support the development of the children’s second language and what role pedagogues ascribe them. There is earlier research where Alternative and Augmentative Communication is connected to children with special needs, but almost no research that connects it with language immersion. This study strives to show a connection between the two and brings up the importance in using Alternative and Augmentative Communication also in language immersion. The study is a qualitative study with an ethnographical research approach. The research material was gathered both through observations and interviews. The observations were carried out in two different language immersion groups and a pedagogue from each group was interviewed. The material from the observations was written down as observation diaries and the interviews were recorded and transcribed. The results of the study show how versatilely pedagogues in language immersion groups use Alternative and Augmentative Communication methods, such as pictures, photographs, body language, facial expressions, sounds, objects and sign language to support children in various daily situations. Both the physical and the social environments were characterized by these methods and the pedagogues ascribed them an important role in both supporting and developing the children’s understanding.