Multilingual/multicultural aspects of visual literacy and interpretation in multimodal educational communication

Abstract

The aim of this thesis was to investigate the use of visual images in print texts produced for language teaching and learning. It tested the manner in which learners from different cultural contexts relate to selected visual images in language textbooks prepared for use in secondary schools. More specifically it aimed to gain clarity on how certain visual elements, relevant to the illustration of people, contribute to encouraging students to access their learning material. The research aimed to gain insight into the way in which visuals can be bridges or barriers to reading and thus also to learning in learner-centred language education in a multilingual/multicultural South African context.