Treatment of history content and written expression in texts for foreign students in compulsory education in Spain

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to conclude on the state of the art in terms of research, materials and needs in the teaching of written expression through the contents of Spanish History in Spain. The starting hypothesis is that there are no suitable materials for the academic and social inclusion of foreign students in our educational system. On this basis, a systematic review of the literature on the subject and of the materials offered by the main publishers in Spain has been carried out. As a working tool, a rubric was developed for the analysis of the materials, and an account was given of the treatment of History content and written expression activities in the selected textbooks. The reference documentation for the teaching of languages and History has been reviewed transversally. The results show the scarcity, or almost absence, of materials specifically developed for non-native learners, the lack of research on issues related to L1 didactics for these children, and the need to establish a European reference framework for history similar to those existing for language teaching and learning.