ABSTRACT
This chapter invites the reader to explore the language and learning contexts of bilingual learners in a range of situations. It will discuss ways of gaining information on children’s competence in their languages and will outline basic principles of first and second language acquisition, and the practical application of these explored. There will be an overview of ideas of language, culture and identity and an overview of research findings and practical suggestions for involving English as an additional language (EAL) parents in their children’s learning. The chapter will introduce readers like Shadjeet, a bilingual support assistant, to key terms used in this field. The chapter will refer the reader to a range of further reading and to resource links including website information with the aim of giving Shadjeet a breadth of knowledge about language acquisition and supporting learning.
