Adapting to children’s individual language proficiency : An observational study of preschool teacher talk addressing monolinguals and children learning English as an additional language

Chan, Jacky and Monaghan, Padraic and Michel, Marije (2023) Adapting to children’s individual language proficiency : An observational study of preschool teacher talk addressing monolinguals and children learning English as an additional language. Journal of Child Language, 50 (2). pp. 365-390. ISSN 0305-0009

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Abstract

In an increasingly diverse society, young children are likely to speak different first languages that are not the majority language of society. Preschool might be one of the first and few environments where they experience the majority language. The present study investigated how preschool teachers communicate with monolingual English preschoolers and preschoolers learning English as an additional language (EAL). We recorded and transcribed four hours of naturalistic preschool classroom activities and observed whether and how preschool teachers tailored their speech to children of different language proficiency levels and linguistic backgrounds (monolingual English: n = 13; EAL: n = 10), using a suite of tools for analysing quantity and quality of speech. We found that teachers used more diverse vocabulary and more complex syntax with the monolingual children and children who were more proficient in English, showing sensitivity to individual children’s language capabilities and adapting their language use accordingly.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of Child Language
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3310
Subjects:
?? child-directed speechenglish as an additional languagelanguage acquisitionnaturalistic observationlinguistics and languagelanguage and linguisticspsychology(all)experimental and cognitive psychologydevelopmental and educational psychology ??
ID Code:
167544
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
22 Mar 2022 09:40
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
03 Jan 2024 10:05