Roopa Language and Movement Integrative Program: a Biological Perspective on Child Education

Abstract

Introduction: Children of the ages 5-6 are in a distinct educational condition. On the one side, they are biologically inclined toward movement and on the other side their parent’s preference toward straight and categorical education like second language starts. This study investigates the effect of Neshaat language and movement integrative program on children’s gross motor development and their second language (English) learning in Tehran. Methods : The sample included 50 boys and girls with the average age of (4.12± 1.32) who voluntarily participated in the study. In a semi-experimental method the children were randomly divided into one experimental group (n=25) and one control group (n=25). The experimental group attended the Neshaat program for 3 months (2 sessions in a week) and the control group also carried out the second language learning process with the same material conventionally, i.e. learning language without movement in a class. The data were analyzed though dependent and independent t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient (=α0.05). Results : The results showed that this integrative program significantly increased the children’s gross motor development and improved the children’s second language learning. Conclusion : this study is the same line with the total physical theory in second language learning and ecological theory in motor development.