La carte conceptuelle : un soutien au transfert des apprentissages métalinguistiques

Abstract

The Concept Map: A Support for Learning Transfer

Based on the concept mapping technique, our research endeavors to experimentally address the challenges encountered by candidates taking the Baccalaureate exam, specifically related to their ability to employ interdisciplinary knowledge while inferentially processing texts in French as a foreign language (FLE). The study intersects two disciplines: French as a Foreign Language (FLE) and History courses in the first language (L1). Employing a three-phase action research approach—commencing with a pre-test involving a text recall task, followed by collaborative concept map design using the PREP technique (Langer, 1982-1984) as a metacognitive experience, and concluding with a post-test to validate our approach—we aim to surpass the limited capacity of working memory and facilitate in-depth processing of textual information. By incorporating the concept map into our experimental approach, we aim to simulate "reflection on cognition," aligning with the training in internal monitoring—a central goal in any educational institution. Our initiative addresses linguistic challenges arising from the mental transition between the first language (L1) and the second language (L2), with a particular focus on challenges associated with mental translation. Situated within a plurilingual context involving Classical Arabic (L1) and the second language, French (FLF), we seek to visualize the linguistic interactions occurring during information processing through schematic organization and hierarchization. Resulted revealed that the use of concept maps substantially supports strategies related to analogical reasoning and high-level text processing. This approach significantly enhances learners' lexical repertoire by shaping organizational strategies and facilitating the storage of conceptual knowledge, streamlining retrieval processes. While concept maps undeniably bolster language skills, our research goes beyond this acknowledgement. It not only highlights the positive impact of integrating concept maps for language skill improvement but also emphasizes the untapped potential for even greater significance and promise. The instructional intervention has shed light on specific elements educators should consider to optimize outcomes. As a tool for facilitating transfer learning, the concept map has proven significant, albeit not without some negative transfers. Adjusting teaching strategies based on individual student needs and characteristics is essential to harness the full potential of this approach.