scholarly journals Home Literacy Environment and English Language Learners’ Literacy Development: What Can We Learn from the Literature?

2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zihan Shi

Intended for educators and researchers in the field of early childhoodeducation working with children from immigrant families, this articlefirst briefly addresses the relationship between home literacy environment and English language learners’ literacy development in both their heritage language and English. Second, through surveying the literature, I identify three different areas in which a home literacy environment influences English language learners’ literacy development: (a) through language attitudes and parental beliefs; (b) through identity formation; and (c) through literacy behaviour of immigrant parents. Some helpful strategies learned from the literature are provided for educators to use with newcomer families in support of children’s literacy development.

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hetty Roessingh ◽  
Susan Elgie

This article reports on the preliminary findings of a two-staged empirical study aimed at gaining insights into the variables salient in the early language and literacy development of young English language learners (ELL). Increasingly, young ELL, whether foreign-born or Canadian-born, arrive at school with little developed English-language proficiency. They must acquire oral language and literacy synchronously. Stage one of this study consists of time series data for reading and vocabulary scores using the Gates MacGinitie reading tests. Stage two consists of an early literacy screen and vocabulary profiles generated from an oral storytelling task for 65 kindergarten-aged ELL and a comparison group of 25 native speakers of English (NS). The findings suggest that although reading and vocabulary are closely interrelated in the stages of early literacy development, over time ELL youngsters face the greatest learning challenges in the area of vocabulary development. Implications for the design of early literacy programs are offered


Author(s):  
Nermin Vehabovic ◽  
Casey Medlock Paul

The development of biliteracy among English language learners (ELLs) has been established as a critical issue in education policy and practice. We live in an era of increasing globalization, which results in increased numbers of immigrants in the United States. As a result, significant proportions of students in U.S. schools come from homes where English is not used as the primary language; however, these students, as emergent bilinguals, are required to navigate language and culture in mainstream, English as a Second Language, and bilingual classrooms contexts. This chapter considers the challenges that emergent bilingual students face in elementary school contexts. In addition, specific research-based strategies are outlined for teachers working with ELLs in mainstream, English as a Second Language, or bilingual classrooms. Lastly, the authors explore how multiliteracy approaches and pedagogy might shape ELLs' identity formation.


2010 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 113-127
Author(s):  
John W Schweiter

The present study explores language attitudes among 23 English language learners of Spanish enrolled in elementary Spanish. The data elicited from these participants were analyzed to see whether females used more positive adjectives to describe the Spanish language than their male counterparts (as shown in previous studies). The data were also analyzed to see whether the participants’ adjectives and comments supported evidence of nationalistic language ideology. The results mirrored those of past studies: females were more likely to describe Spanish with positive adjectives. Additionally, there was a great amount of nationalistic language ideology and ethnocentrism among the participants who felt negatively toward Spanish. The researcher argues that this may have contributed towards negative language ideologies reported by the participants.


2019 ◽  
pp. 171-186
Author(s):  
Hyesun Cho ◽  
Kwangok Song ◽  
Ji-Yeon Lee

Drawing on the experiences of Korean immigrant families in the United States, this chapter highlights the importance of parental involvement in the bilingual literacy development of young English language learners. Findings of two projects on Korean parents' engagement in Korean and English language development at home are presented. These findings yield several insights into Korean immigrant parents' perspectives of and experiences in supporting their children's biliteracy development. This chapter suggests not only the importance of parental role but also the teachers' role in bilingual literacy development among young children. Suggestions for educators to support immigrant families to enhance their children's biliteracy learning are provided.


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