ABSTRACT

The age for early language learning has dropped dramatically in the past decade to include children under 6 years old, yet very little published research exists to support the implementation of such programmes.

Drawing on a synthesis of theory, research and practice, this edited volume makes an innovative contribution to literature concerning language education for very young children. It explores language learning in a wide range of geographical contexts with reference to second and foreign language learning, bilingualism and plurilingualism with children under the age of 6 years old. Chapters present discussion around teacher education, policy-making, international case studies, school and home-based projects, code switching and language use, and methodologies and approaches.

Early Years Second Language Education: International perspectives on theory and practice will be essential reading for researchers, academics, teacher trainers, and post-graduate students in the fields of early years education, foreign and second language education, language didactics and teacher education.

chapter |11 pages

Introduction

part I|79 pages

Focus on the child

chapter 2|17 pages

Bilingual pre-primary schools

Language acquisition, intercultural encounters and environmental learning

chapter 4|16 pages

Response to picturebooks

A case for valuing children's linguistic repertoires during repeated read alouds

chapter 5|14 pages

Multilingual becoming in reading

A picture storybook-reading-assemblage in early years education

part III|69 pages

Focus on the classroom approaches