Early Years Second Language Education

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.

Sandie Mourão is an independent scholar, teacher educator, author and educational consultant specializing in early years language education. Mónica Lourenço is an Invited Assistant Professor at the Department of Education, University of Aveiro, Portugal, with a special interest in early years plurilingualism.

Foreword Madalena Cruz-Ferreira Introduction Sandie Mourão and Mónica Lourenço Part 1: Focus on the Child Cognitive and Linguistic Aspects of Learning a Second Language in the Early Years Belma Haznedar Bilingual Pre-primary Schools: Language Acquisition, Intercultural Encounters and Environmental Learning Kristin Kersten Perceptions of Identity in Trilingual 5-year-old Twins in Diverse Pre-primary Educational Contexts Nayr Ibrahim Response to Picturebooks: A Case for Valuing Children's Linguistic Repertoires During Repeated Read Alouds Sandie Mourão Multilingual Becoming in Reading: A Picture Storybook-reading-assemblage in Early Years Education Anna Bylund and Polly Björk-Willén Part 2: Focus on the Classroom Approaches Early Language Learning in Cyprus: Voices from the Classroom Sophie Ioannou-Georgiou Introducing French to Pre-primary Children in the North East of England: The Narrative Format Approach Jim McElwee Languages and Diversity in Pre-primary Education: Towards a Broader and Integrated Approach Mónica Lourenço and Ana Isabel Andrade Active Listening for Second Language Learning in the Early Years Teresa Fleta The Role of Technology in Early Years Language Education Barbara Hoskins Sakamoto Part 3: Focus on Teachers and Parents Pre-primary English Language Learning and Teacher Education in the Czech Republic Monika Cerná Pre-primary Second Language Education in Slovakia and the Role of Teacher Training Programmes Zuzana Portiková Measuring Empathy and Teachers' Readiness to Adopt Innovations in Second Language Learning Ekaterina Sofronieva Family Involvement in Second Language Learning: The Bilfam Project Sabine Pirchio, Traute Taeschner, Anca Cristina Colibaba, Elza Gheorghiu and Zlatica Jursová Zacharová Supporting Parents in Building Learning Activities in Another Language Alexander Sokol and Edgar Lasevich