Mauro Mediavilla takes part in the 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Advancement of Socio-economics
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On 11 July, our researcher presented a paper on the effect of bilingualism programmes on learning at the Amsterdam meeting.

At this 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Advancement of Socio-economics, the paper presented by Mauro Mediavilla was the following:

  • Mauro Mediavilla, Luis Pires, María-J. Mancebón, Jose-María Gómez: “Does the Bilingualism Program in the Community of Madrid Negatively Affect Learning? an Impact Assessment Based on Four Test”

Abstract: In the academic year of 2004-2005 the Spanish region of Madrid began to implement a bilingual educational programme in public schools. Under this program, students not only study English as a foreign language but also some other subjects (at least Science, History, and Geography) are taught in English. While the benefits of knowing a second language are well established, the potential effects over the learning of other subjects in English have received much less attention. We evaluate the bilingual programme in secondary education in a group of public schools of the Madrid region using two database: PISA and a standardized test for all tenth grade students in Madrid. Our results indicate that the bilingual program of the Madrid Region, in addition to improving the level of English of the students, does not reduce the knowledge and skills of those subjects taught in English, comparing it which those subjects are taught in their native language (Spanish).

Programme 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Advancement of Socio-economics