Young English Language Learners Research Articles

L2 pragmatic development by early teenagers in study abroad and foreign language settings: a focus on pragmatic markers

ABSTRACT Second Language Pragmatics (L2 pragmatics) research focused on the study abroad (SA) context points out the benefits of this context for second language (L2) pragmatic development while also illustrating the non-linearity of this development, as it is shaped by different contextual factors and individual differences. Nevertheless, this research has primarily focused on adult learners, and little is known about how children and adolescents learn L2 pragmatics in SA. The present study investigates how pragmatic markers (PMs) develop in young English language learners in two learning contexts: SA and at home (AH). More particularly, the study examines differences in the frequency and type of PMs across these contexts. Thirty-four Catalan/Spanish girls aged 12, learning English at home (n = 16) and in an SA context in Ireland (n = 18), participated in the study. Participants were interviewed before and after their SA experience, and the results revealed no statistically significant differences from pre- to post-test in the AH group, with only one observed in the SA group. Only one significant difference was found between the two groups in favour of the SA group. Hence, the study sheds more light on the complexity entailed in the phenomenon of L2 pragmatic development during SA.

Using a genre‐based approach to teach writing to elementary ESL students: A boon or a barrier?

AbstractA genre‐based approach to second language (L2) writing instruction has received traction due to its impact on helping L2 students improve their writing skills. This approach to teaching writing is particularly useful for young English language learners (ELLs), as it simultaneously focuses on their English language and writing skills development. Despite this, the genre‐based approach is often criticized for its apparent prescriptiveness. In this article, we make the case that a genre approach to writing instruction is a boon not a barrier to ELLs in elementary contexts. Drawing on the scholarship in early childhood literacy and L2 writing, we posit that a genre approach to writing instruction is helpful to elementary ELLs for the following reasons: (a) it is a phased approach, (b) it provides experiential learning opportunities, (c) it is goal‐oriented, and (d) it helps make students self‐efficacious and autonomous. Using these reasons as reference points, we also discuss implications for teaching and learning.

The effectiveness of comprehension-based visual arts instruction and production-based flashcard instruction in young English language learners’ vocabulary acquisition and retention

Research on young English language learners has been gaining popularity in recent years, but to this day remains underdeveloped. The present study aimed to add to this body of research by exploring the effects of visual arts activities implemented via comprehension and compared to more commonly used flashcard activities implemented via comprehension-based instruction on young English language learners’ vocabulary acquisition and retention. The study specifically focused on very young learners who do not have access to the English language outside of the classroom. This study employed a within-subjects counterbalanced design with young English language learners (N = 47) with a mean age of three years and eight months. The results provided evidence that both instruction types are highly effective in the productive and receptive learning of vocabulary among young English language learners. Furthermore, the positive effects of visual arts activities implemented via comprehension-based instruction on vocabulary retention were found to be significantly higher than those of the production-based instruction.

FLIPPED CLASSROOM MODEL WITH YOUNG LEARNERS’ VOCABULARY LEARNING IN PRIMARY ELT CLASSROOMS

This mixed-method study explored the effect of the flipped classroom model (FCM) on vocabulary learning of young English language learners and their perceptions and experiences about FCM practices. Two intact groups of 4th-grade students in a state primary school in Turkiye were randomly assigned as experimental (N = 32) and control (N = 33) groups. The quantitative data related to vocabulary learning were collected through three measurement tests. The qualitative data were obtained via semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 19 volunteer students from the experimental group. The results revealed that the levels of vocabulary learning and retention for the experimental group students were statistically significantly higher than those of the control group students (p< 0.05). The qualitative data analysis also confirmed the effectiveness of the model for vocabulary learning and revealed its efficiency for language classes of young English language learners. Accordingly, suggestions were made for the FCM implementation.

Exploring the Effect of Extensive Reading on Young English Learners’ Second Language Writing Achievement in a Vietnamese Primary School Setting

Extensive reading (ER) provides young English language learners (YELLs) many benefits, including the sustainable development of writing (e.g., the reading-writing relationship). However, this area is under- researched. To address this, this quasi-experimental study investigated the effect of ER on YELLs' second language writing achievement using an enhanced ER treatment. Pre- and post-Cambridge Primary English Test (PET) samples were collected and evaluated via the PET analytic rubric total band and subscales scores (Content, Communicative Achievement, Organization, Language). The results indicated that the EG outperformed the CG in total band score and three subscale bands (Content, Organization, Language), and the EG and CG performed comparably well in the fourth (Communicative Achievement). As prior research specific to ER’s effect on YELLs’ writing achievement in the Vietnam context is noticeably understudied, this study offers a starting point for future investigations.

Assessment of Young English-Language Learners

This article provides a comprehensive overview of formative and summative language assessment of young language learners, including the steps involved in developing a di- agnostic test of English for primary school children. The importance of determining the level of English competence in young learners is emphasized, and various assessment and teaching are explored. The article covers both formative assessment, which allows for ongoing feedback and progress monitoring, as well as summative assessment. The four essential language skills - listening, speaking, reading, and writing - are examined in detail, and strategies for assessing each skill are discussed. The article also empha- sizes the need to use assessment results for diagnostic purposes to improve teaching and learning outcomes. This article is intended for language educators and policymakers seeking to improve language instruction and evaluation in primary education settings.

Poetry as a Venue for Meaningful Literacy: A Case Study of a Primary English Language Learner

In order to humanize and contextualize ESL/EFL learning, poetry writing has been suggested and considered as an effective strategy for meaningful literacy. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence for the pedagogical significance of poetry writing on language learning. To make up for the dearth of research about poetry writing, the present study explored to what extent a primary English language learner can express herself through poetry writing in an American classroom and the significance of poetry writing as meaningful literacy in ESL/EFL learning. Adopting a qualitative research approach, this small-scale case study conducted textual analyses of a young English language learner’s poetry works and in-depth interviews with her. Findings suggest that poetry writing encouraged the participant learner to express herself with her own voice, enhanced her L2 linguistic awareness, provided meaningful learning opportunities―authorship and readership―, and motivated the learner to overcome challenges as an English language learner. The present study contributes to the understanding of young English language learners’ poetry writing in the field.

Phantom young English language learners: The shadowy presence of second language proficiency in (English medium) early childhood assessment

This paper examines how English language learners (ELLs) remain shadowy figures in the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC), a national early childhood development assessment, which since 2009 has been completed triennially by classroom teachers in all Australian jurisdictions for every child in their first year of schooling. It shows how ELLs elude clear identification and appropriate English as a Second/Additional language (L2) assessment because of the fundamentally monolingual conceptualisation of this tool. The AEDC provides the only set of education data at the national level for this young age group and has consequently become a “go to” measure for policy initiatives. However, young children in contemporary Australia are linguistically diverse and so semi-recognition of ELLs in an English only assessment tool is very concerning. Neither the definition of ELLs nor the wording of key assessment items gives classroom teachers sufficient guidance on how to respond for ELLs. The resulting AEDC data and associated reports easily drift towards deficit misinterpretations as natural L2 proficiency levels are muddled with global childhood development in communication and cognition. The paper makes recommendations for improving the quality and accuracy of AEDC data outputs for ELLs and for using the data for policy purposes.

Teacher Perceptions on L2 Acquisition and Education Practice for English Language Learners

This study examined teachers' perceptions on language acquisition and education practice for English Language Learners (ELLs) to further address the disproportionality concern in education and identify the areas of training needs for classroom teachers as education renovation. A total of 222 participants voluntarily participated in this study. A Mixed Methods approach was used to conduct the study and analyze the data. The results showed that most participants did not have formal training in second language (L2) or learning experience but they had already taught ELLs. Working with ELLs and their parents was considered challenging for five common reasons. Language barriers and cultural differences represented the most challenge. There was also an overall deficit view toward ELLs’ language difficulties. Special education or ELL self-contained classrooms were thus regarded as most beneficial for ELLs. Additionally, despite their belief that there is a critical period for language development due to the fact that children pick up language faster than adults, most participants considered translation important in assisting young ELLs to acquire language. Drawing from the findings, the study concluded areas of teacher training and recommended further studies.

Reading to Learn (R2L) Pedagogy: Teaching Reading Comprehension to a Young English Language Learner

Abstract: Reading to Learn (R2L) pedagogy is a child-friendly approach that aims to minimize the literacy gap among learners. R2L pedagogy is applicable at every level of education with the use of various text types. Considering many significant aspects of R2L, this approach could be used in Indonesia to help learners fulfilling the high demand of Kurikulum Merdeka at primary and junior high school levels. However, only little research using R2L pedagogy in Indonesian primary school contexts was found. Therefore, this research is intended to discover how R2L pedagogy supports a young English language learners’ reading comprehension. Using a case study methodology, the researcher implemented to activities, namely (1) preparing for reading and (2) detailed reading phase adapted from Rose and Martin (2012). Moreover, the researcher used videotapes observation and the learners’ sample works in collecting the data. In analyzing the data, the researcher used thematic analysis by Creswell and Creswell (2018) and categorized the data into selected codes and themes which is expected to show how R2L pedagogy supports a young English language learners’ reading comprehension. Keywords: EFL classroom; Kurikulum Merdeka; Reading to Learn (R2L) pedagogy; reading comprehension; young learners Abstrak: Reading to Learn (R2L) adalah pendekatan pedagogi ramah anak yang bertujuan untuk meminimalisir kesenjangan literasi antar peserta didik. Pendekatan pedagogi R2L dapat diterapkan di setiap jenjang pendidikan dengan penggunaan berbagai jenis teks. Mengingat banyak aspek penting dari R2L, pendekatan ini dapat digunakan di Indonesia untuk membantu siswa memenuhi tuntutan Kurikulum Merdeka yang tinggi di jenjang Sekolah Dasar dan Sekolah Menengah Pertama. Namun, penelitian yang menggunakan pendekatan pedagogi R2L di sekolah dasar, khususnya di Indonesia, masih sedikit ditemukan. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini dimaksudkan untuk mengetahui bagaimana pendekatan pedagogi R2L mendukung pemahaman membaca pembelajar bahasa Inggris usia dini. Dengan menggunakan metodologi studi kasus, peneliti menerapkan dua kegiatan, yaitu (1) preparing for reading dan (2) detailed reading yang diadaptasi dari Rose dan Martin (2012). Selain itu, peneliti menggunakan observasi kelas dan contoh karya siswa dalam mengumpulkan data. Dalam meng­analisis data, peneliti menggunakan analisis tematik oleh Creswell dan Creswell (2018) dan meng­kategorikan data ke dalam kode dan tema terpilih yang diharapkan dapat menunjukkan bagaimana pendekatan pedagogi R2L mendukung pemahaman membaca pembelajar bahasa Inggris usia dini. Kata kunci: EFL classroom; Kurikulum Medeka; Reading to Learn (R2L) pedagogy; pemahaman membaca; pembelajar usia dini

Student English Teachers' Vantage Points of the Digital Short Stories They Designed for Young Learners

Literature review unveils the need for exploring what student teachers of English think about their experiences of preparing digital stories for young learners, and investigating their perceptions with regard to the use of digital storytelling in the teaching of English to young learners. This instrumental case study aims to unpack pre-service English teachers' conceptions of their experiences of creating digital short stories and incorporating them into young English language learner classes. The qualitative data collected through conducting a qualitative survey and an in-depth interview with Turkish student teachers of English following their experiences of designing digital short stories for young learners was analysed, performing inductive content analysis. The results demonstrated the student English teachers held strong beliefs in the beneficial effect of digital short stories on fostering young English language learners' learning, and the process of developing digital short stories was not extremely challenging and furthered their technological competence.

A 4-year longitudinal study examining lexical and syntactic bootstrapping in English Language Learners (ELLs) and their monolingual peers.

Current models of the affinity between syntax and vocabulary are complex and recognize the contribution of bootstrapping and computational processes. To date, the mutual facilitation between these two constructs over time has not been studied in second language (L2) school children. The present study investigated longitudinally the direction and strength of the associations between syntactic and vocabulary skills in English Language Learners (ELLs; N = 409, 204 females, M age = 78 months, low socioeconomic status backgrounds) and their monolingual English-speaking peers (EL1; N = 157, 92 females, M age = 77 months, low socioeconomic status backgrounds). Children were assessed annually from Grade 1 to Grade 4 on a syntactic and a vocabulary task. Overall, autoregressive cross-lagged analyses indicated that early syntax predicted later vocabulary and vice versa, yet, the magnitude of prediction varied across groups. Notably, in the early stages of L2 learning, the predictive power from vocabulary to syntax was stronger than that in the opposite direction. Moreover, the predictive power from vocabulary to syntax was consistently stronger in the ELL than in the EL1 group. The results suggest that, in general, with sufficient quantity and quality of exposure to the L2, lexical and syntactic bootstrapping coexist. However, among novice young ELLs, bootstrapping is stronger from vocabulary to syntax than the other way around. Results underscore the importance of studying the relations between vocabulary and syntax longitudinally, and caution about an injudicious application of L1-based models to young L2 children's language development. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Micro Language Planning for Sustainable Early English Language Education: A Case Study on Chinese Educators’ Agency

In language education research, micro-level language policy and planning (LPP) primarily concerns local actors’ decision making on matters in relation to language(s) and its users. Despite a growing body of literature focusing on micro-level language planning in educational settings, there is a scarcity of research examining early childhood education settings as the micro-level LPP context for young English language learners. By adopting a qualitative case study approach and drawing on an ecological approach to LPP, the present study examined the educators’ enactment of agency in micro-planning the English language education policy (LEP) in one Chinese kindergarten and the associated factors shaping their agency. Deploying a grounded theory analytical method, this study revealed that the sustainable implementation of the kindergarten English LEP depended on the principal, native English-speaking teachers, and the Chinese assistant teachers’ different degrees of agency. Additionally, the research findings indicated an array of contextual and individual factors nested in a hierarchical structure that facilitated, guided, and constrained the educators’ agency in a role-and circumstance-dependent manner. This study contributes to the pertinent literature by casting nuanced light on the different educators’ contributions to the micro-level LPP against a national policy that does not endorse early-year English language education.

The role of bilingual discussion prompts in shared E-book reading

This randomized controlled trial study examined the effects of bilingual discussion prompts with feedback within a multimedia interactive e-book on parent-child shared reading for young English language learners aged 3–7 in China. Sixty-four parent-child pairs read a multimedia English storybook with bilingual discussion prompts in the treatment condition, and forty-three pairs read the same multimedia storybook without discussion prompts. After reading the storybook twice, children in the discussion-prompt group outperformed the control group on story comprehension and retelling measures. However, children in both groups showed comparable gains in English vocabulary. According to our qualitative analysis of parent-child responses on discussion pages, when parents follow the question-response-evaluate-feedback flow of the discussion sessions, they tend to practice dialogic reading strategies and scaffold children's learning naturally and effectively without explicit training. With the learning facilitation from both the storybook and parents, children received more comprehensible input, produced more English output, and became active storytellers instead of passive learners. Moreover, the e-book with a built-in questioning avatar established children's parasocial relationship with the story characters. These findings suggest an exciting potential for multimedia interactive e-books, powered by bilingual discussion prompts, as an effective educational tool for families from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

Evaluation of a computer‐assisted letter sound tutoring program: An application to preschool English language learners

AbstractThe importance of letter sound knowledge (LSK) as a precursor to later literacy skills has been well‐documented. Since English language learners (ELLs), or students who first acquired a language other than English, continue to underperform in reading compared to their English‐speaking peers, they are particularly at‐risk for reading and academic difficulties. The current study examines the utility and acceptability of teaching letter sounds to four ELL preschoolers through a software‐based incremental rehearsal tool (Tutoring Buddy). All students demonstrated increases in LSK, with large effect sizes derived through percentage of all nonoverlapping data analyses. Increases were also noted in the students' generalization of letter sounds to measures of letter sound fluency and nonsense word fluency, signified by small to large effect sizes. Large effect sizes generated for real word fluency measures indicated that all students were able to apply LSK to decoding real, consonant‐vowel‐consonant words. All students rated Tutoring Buddy as helpful for their letter sound learning, and varied in how enjoyable they found the intervention to be. Overall, the results support the use of Tutoring Buddy as an effective and acceptable method for teaching letter sounds to young ELLs. Implications for school‐based professionals working with ELL and future directions for research are discussed.

Turkey’s Primary English-as-a-foreign Language (EFL) Coursebooks: An Investigation of Emergent Literacy Tasks

Turkey’s most recent primary English language curriculum, which highlights oral skills, mandates communicative English language teaching to young English language learners. Recent primary English curriculum comprises two hours per week of English-as-a-foreign language (EFL) instruction to include listening and speaking only for Grade 2 and very limited reading and writing for Grade 3 onward. While communicative skills are highly emphasized, literacy skills are kept on the back burner as reading and writing are incorporated gradually with minimal reading and writing at earlier grade levels and some literacy practices at upper grade levels. Successful emergent literacy development in English highly depends on young language learners’ phonological (e.g. alliteration, rhyme), phonemic (i.e. sound manipulation), and orthographic awareness (i.e. spelling conventions) in English. The present study investigates to what extent Turkey’s locally-designed primary EFL coursebooks—used in 2018-2021 academic period—cater to the early literacy needs of young learners at grades two, three, and four. The study explores early literacy content in coursebooks in a mixed-methods design: qualitatively with the descriptive content analysis and quantitatively with the frequency of early literacy constructs. The results of those analyses reveal primary English coursebooks do not promote a linguistically sound and pedagogically appropriate integration of literacy skills according to principles of second language (L2) literacy acquisition at primary levels. Turkey’s misaligned early English literacy curriculum, in its current state, sends alarming messages to foreign language policy-makers, material designers, and EFL educators.

Utilizing Readers' Theatre and Role-Play to Engage Young English Language Learners

Students whose primary native language differs from the language taught in their school require specialized instruction and creative teaching strategies. Readers’ theatre is an evidence-based practice that builds language skills in English language learners. This technique was used in a diverse kindergarten classroom to increase oral fluency and vocabulary. Social and literacy skills were also targeted. This paper examines the benefits of using role-play and specifically readers’ theatre as an approach to teaching English language learners. Keywordslanguage learners, readers’ theatre, role-play, fluency, vocabulary, social skills, literacy skills

Korean-english Bilingual Children's Stress Cue Sensitivity and its Relationship with Reading in English.

Lexical stress plays a critical role in multisyllabic word reading in English. However, assignment of English lexical stress, which is neither fixed nor marked in writing, can pose significant challenges for English learners and has not been well-understood. The present study aims to fill the research gap by studying sensitivity to lexical stress cues and its contribution to their word reading performance among young English-language learners whose first language is Korean. The fundamental differences in prosodic systems between Korean and English provide theoretical significance of studying how bilingual children having no lexical stress in their first language process English lexical stress. This study focuses on two major cues to English lexical stress: morphological and orthographic cues. Findings revealed that the participants are sensitive to the two stress cues, with better performance with orthographic cues to stress assignment. However, no statistically significant correlations were found among variables on stress cue sensitivity with those on reading.

Measuring anxiety among young English language learners: Application of digital games for evaluation

The purpose of the following study was to evaluate how the impact of technology affects the anxiety of elementary school students in English classes in a private school in Cuenca, Ecuador. Through a mixed method approach using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Results showed that students experienced a statistically significant decrease in anxiety after being assessed through Quizizz games compared to traditional pencil-and-paper assessments. It was also found that students' anxieties regarding assessments were primarily triggered by fear of consequences, failure, and not achieving perfect scores. Further research over longer periods is recommended.

Review of Literature on Teaching English Vocabularies Through Games to Young Language Learners

In the last two decades, learning English has become a popular activity in Iran (Sadeghi & Richards, 2015). There has been a remarkable increase in the number of private language schools in the country. In Iran, interest in English has risen due to the status of the language as a lingua franca and its necessity for technical, scientific, and economic developments. Meanwhile, vocabulary is deemed as one of the most crucial aspects of learning a language. Currently, vocabularies are taught through traditional methods; therefore, young learners lose their interest over time. This paper aims to substantiate that games are profoundly effective in teaching vocabularies and affect young learners’ motivation and engagement with the language. This paper presents a review of literature on teaching English vocabularies through games to young English language learners in Iran. It discusses the practical instructions of games and how games could be taught more effectively. It describes the suitability and implication of games and how they should be selected and implemented by teachers. Three games are introduced for teaching vocabularies and followed by a discussion on the inherent challenges of teaching vocabularies through games.