ABSTRACT
The introduction of early second language (L2) learning has been increasingly promoted in Europe during the last decade. Many studies have shown that beginning language learning early in bilingual programmes leads to higher levels of L2 competence than traditional English as a Foreign Language (EFL) programmes. Currently there are not many research studies that systematically investigate the principles of learning mechanisms and the language attainment of pre-primary school children. For this reason, the Early Language and Intercultural Acquisition Studies (ELIAS) project set out to investigate children's learning development in ten bilingual pre-primary schools across Europe, in the domains of language acquisition, intercultural learning and 'green immersion' (GI). Adding a focus on bilingual education and intercultural competence, the educational concept of 'green immersion' is defined by the research team of the ELIAS study as: immersive foreign language learning based on content topics from nature and the environment.
