Framing Bilingual Classroom Discourse: Lessons from Hong Kong Secondary School English Classes

A model of bilingual classroom discourse is presented as a set of communicational frames illustrated by data from secondary English classes in Hong Kong. The ‘innermost’ frame, where the second language, English, is most likely to occur, is that in which the lesson is conducted. Linked to this lesson frame is a lesson-support frame which functions to structure communication and behaviour. The teacher is the main participant in this frame, though students may also participate. Institutional messages which are not directly related to communication in the lesson frame are conveyed in an institutional support frame characterised by primary use of the mother tongue rather than the second language. The ‘outermost’ frame is that in which non-lesson talk occurs, generally in the mother tongue. This commentary frame may be exploited by students to develop a counter-discourse in opposition to the institutional agenda and other sorts of new discourses. The discussion addresses the difficulty faced by teachers in secondlanguage contexts in trying to encourage communication and participation in a way which does not marginalise the second language. It also suggests similarities and differences in students’ off-lesson talk in other bilingual and non-bilingual school contexts.