A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Suomi toisena kielenä -oppija ainereaalin kirjoittajana ylioppilaskokeessa (2023)
Finnish as a second language learner as a writer of natural science subjects in the Finnish matriculation examination

Nissilä, L., Reiman, N., Vaarala, H., & Leontjev, D. (2023). Suomi toisena kielenä -oppija ainereaalin kirjoittajana ylioppilaskokeessa. In N. Hynninen, I. Herneaho, E. Sippola, J. Isosävi, & M. Yang (Eds.), Kieli ja osallisuus. Språk och delaktighet. Language and participation (pp. 72-106). Suomen soveltavan kielitieteen yhdistys ry. AFinLAn vuosikirja, 2023. https://doi.org/10.30661/afinlavk.127355

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Nissilä, Leena; Reiman, Nina; Vaarala, Heidi; Leontjev, Dmitri

Parent publication: Kieli ja osallisuus. Språk och delaktighet. Language and participation

Parent publication editors: Hynninen, Niina; Herneaho, Irina; Sippola, Eeva; Isosävi, Johanna; Yang, Mei

eISBN: 978-951-9388-76-2

Journal or series: AFinLAn vuosikirja

eISSN: 2343-2608

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 25/10/2023

Number in series: 2023

Pages range: 72-106

Number of pages in the book: 331

Publisher: Suomen soveltavan kielitieteen yhdistys ry

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: Finnish

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30661/afinlavk.127355

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/91777

Additional information: Suomen soveltavan kielitieteen yhdistyksen julkaisuja n:o 80

Abstract

This article focuses on the performance of Finnish as a second language (L2) examinees in the Finnish Matriculation Examination (ME). We explore whether and in what ways students’ L2 reading and writing performance predicts their examination performance in selected subjects in the natural sciences (biology and physics). Our study focuses on the relationship between language and content in disciplinary literacy. The data, obtained from the Matriculation Examination Board, consist of students’ ME performances in 2006 and 2021. The study is a mixedmethods study. We first conducted linear regressions, which showed that the students’ L2 writing and/or reading performance predicted their performance in the biology and physics exams. We then interpreted these results with reference to a qualitative analysis of the students’ responses to the biology and physics exam tasks. Our results have implications for the development of upper secondary education and the ME and thus for strengthening the participation of students with an L2 background in higher education.

Keywords: general upper secondary school students; immigrant background; Finnish as a second language; matriculation examination (degrees); humanities and natural sciences (curriculum subjects); literary skills

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2023

JUFO rating: 1