ERIC Number: EJ1325220
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0218-8791
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Home and School Factors in Early English Language Development
Asia Pacific Journal of Education, v41 n4 p657-672 2021
The current study explored the home and school factors that are important for Singaporean pre-schoolers' (N = 1440) early English development from K1 to P1. Language input quantity and quality factors at home (e.g., number of English books,) and at school (e.g., instructional support in class) were used to predict children's English vocabulary and word reading development using linear mixed-effects models. Children's internal factors (e.g., non-verbal reasoning) were controlled. The results revealed that children who had more English input and higher input quality at home demonstrated faster receptive vocabulary growth. Children's word reading skill was more influenced by the English input quality at home. Children who were frequently read to in English demonstrated faster development in word reading competence. Mother's educational level also mattered: higher maternal education was associated with faster growth in reading skill. The length of time children stayed at school and teachers' qualification also significantly and positively associated with children's English learning. These findings indicate the substantial contribution of the home literacy environment to Singaporean children's early English language development, compared to the quality of teacher-child interactions in preschool. The necessity of more parental involvement in early English language learning at home is discussed under the realm of usage-based theory.
Descriptors: Family Environment, Educational Environment, Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, English (Second Language), Preschool Children, Vocabulary Development, Reading Skills, Nonverbal Ability, Mothers, Educational Attainment, Foreign Countries, Linguistic Input, Receptive Language, Parent Child Relationship, Reading Aloud to Others, Books, Teacher Qualifications, Preschool Teachers, Teacher Student Relationship, Longitudinal Studies, Bilingualism, Language Tests, Reading Tests, Classroom Environment, Intelligence Tests, Parent Attitudes, Family Characteristics
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Singapore
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Classroom Assessment Scoring System; Raven Advanced Progressive Matrices; Raven Progressive Matrices
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A