Early Instructed Second Language Acquisition: Pathways to Competence

Joanna Rokita-Jaśkow · Melanie Ellis

Jan. 2019 · Early Language Learning in School Contexts Boek 2 · Multilingual Matters

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This book provides a holistic overview of what leads to success in foreign language learning at an early age and deepens our understanding of early foreign language learning. The studies use an array of methodological approaches to research learners aged between three and ten, as well as their parents and teachers, in instructional, minimal-input settings. They describe various ways of organising and promoting very early foreign language learning, both through language policy and innovative pedagogy, and focus on ways of providing input for second language acquisition, which include oral classroom discourse strategies, as well as learner development of literacy skills. Special attention is given to the necessity to develop critical reading skills, the ability to handle multimodal texts, and attitudes, motivations and behaviours and how these may impact on the teaching and learning process. Chapters emphasise that ultimate outcomes depend on extra linguistic environmental factors, such as parental involvement and teacher competences. These include establishing control in the classroom, as well as using appropriate strategies for Negotiation of Meaning, and helping learners build positive self-concept. This book will be of interest to all professionals involved in the teaching of foreign languages to young learners, as well as to researchers, teacher educators and students working in this area.

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Joanna Rokita-Jaśkow is Associate Professor in Applied Linguistics at the Pedagogical University of Cracow, Poland, where she is Head of the ELT section. She is author of over 40 papers and three books and her main research interests concern child foreign and second language acquisition and foreign language teacher education.

Melanie Ellis teaches at the Pedagogical University of Cracow, where she is Head of the Practical English section in the Department of English Language Education. Her research interests include foreign language learning assessment and supporting learners for whom foreign language learning presents a challenge.