The role of language in learning: what does international research say?

Language plays an important role in all learning. Since language is the main medium of communicating meaning in most learning activities, without a sufficient understanding of that language, learning results depend on the language used. Yet, many ethnic minority children in Vietnam and other countries encounter a challenge of learning in and through a language they do not sufficiently speak or understand. This paper will discuss the role that language plays in learning. The focus will be on research findings on the use of the learner’s mother tongue as the medium of education. Research on learning a second language by minority students will also be briefly introduced, as well as the implications of “submersion education”.