Using visual scaffolding to enhance the comprehensibility of English materials in science education: A genre-based approach

Abstract

This paper investigates how visual scaffolding enhances the comprehensibility of English scientific materials in secondary education, focusing on Bilingual Scientific Literacy (BSL). Despite its importance, BSL is often underemphasized, with students facing linguistic challenges in understanding scientific texts. The study addresses two research questions: how teachers create visual scaffolds to improve students' grasp of quantum science materials and their perceptions of this approach. Utilizing Unsworth's (2001) genre analysis framework and Kress & van Leeuwen's (2006) visual analysis framework, the research involved collaborative efforts between physics and English teachers in Taiwan. Data were collected through designs of visual scaffolds, interviews, and reflection reports. Findings show that teachers used visual representations of functional stages, logical connections, and nominalizations to simplify abstract concepts. They believed visual scaffolding enhanced student comprehension, though challenges remain in interpreting complex visuals and creating effective scaffolds. This study contributes to the literature on genre-based visual scaffolding in bilingual education by demonstrating how the integration of Unsworth's (2001) and Kress & van Leeuwen's (2006) frameworks can create visual scaffolding that improves the comprehensibility of English scientific materials for EFL students.