French and English in Tandem in the Algerian University Context: What Effects on Comprehension and Note-Taking Among Science Students?

Abstract

As part of a language reform aimed at establishing English as the medium of instruction for scientific disciplines in Algeria since September 2023, this study investigates how the use of French influences students’ comprehension of scientific content and the quality of their note-taking. The research was conducted with second-year students in the Life and Natural Sciences (SNV) program during a microbiology module at the University of Bordj Bou Arréridj. Two versions of the same course, "Microbiology", were compared: one delivered entirely in English, entitled Factors Influencing Effectiveness of Control Agents, and another taught in English with intermittent use of French, entitled Other Physical Microbiological Control Methods. At the end of the experiment, students’ notes were evaluated based on their relevance and coherence, and comprehension was assessed through multiple-choice tests for each course. The findings reveal that the occasional use of French significantly enhances comprehension and note-taking, while also reducing cognitive load. These results underscore the importance of adopting a multilingual