<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Dear Ellen,<div><br></div><div>I teach a class in child bilingualism, so probably some of what my students read and think about is relevant here. I'll just respond to the questions I might know something about...</div><div><br><div><div>On 15 Dec 2009, at 13:20, yqwang wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana; "><div><font face="Verdana" size="2"><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; ">This is the first time I ask for help here.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; ">I<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; ">am looking forward for your kind suggestions.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><o:p></o:p></span></font></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><o:p><font face="@Dotum" size="4"> </font></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; ">In</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>my Ph.D. dissertation, I want to conduct a study on kindergarten English instruction. Since 1990s, parents are crazy for young kid</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; ">s’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>English learning in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region></st1:place>. It’s a fact in<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Shanghai</st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that most kindergarten provide English program for 3-6 year children. It seems that parents are over-anxious. However, what is the relationship between kindergarten English learning and later English achievement</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; ">?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Can the early start guarantee more success</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; ">?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></font></font></div></font></div></div></span></blockquote><div>I'd say that ealry L2 is useful only insofar as it is an immersion experience. Very young children don't do well with explicit teaching, and don't benefit from just an hour or two a week. Also, for it to be of any use, there must be serious continuity: If they keep getting exposure to English over a long period of time, and it involves interaction with English speakers that is interesting and motivating to them, and it is not interrupted by a few years of no exposure, then yes, early learning can be beneficial.</div><br><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana; "><div><font face="Verdana" size="2"><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; ">What are the optimal conditions for children to learn a foreign language</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; ">?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></font></font></div></font></div></div></span></blockquote>As I indicated above, the key thing is immersion - hearing the language used by fluent (if not L1) users, and with motivation: reasons to use the language, ideally with social interlocutors who are of interest to the children and who do not know the children's L1.</div><div><br><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana; "><div><font face="Verdana" size="2"><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; ">I think a careful study is necessary and of great significance to both parents and kindergarten</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>teachers</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; ">.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "> <span lang="EN-US">How</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>can I conduct my study effectively?<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Is there anyone have done relevant studies?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; ">Suggestions on methodology are especially welcome.</span></font></font></div></font></div></div></span></blockquote>I would start by using audio/video recording to see who the children are talking to, what kind of responses they are giving, etc - a naturalistic observational study, perhaps focusing on a small number of individual children.</div><div><br></div><div>There is a considerably literature, though not necessarily quite what you are planning to study. Some sources for the literature include Ellen Bialystok's book (2001) and one by Barbara Pearson, mainly addressed to families, I think, last year. Lily Wong Fillmore studied children learning English in immersion in Kindergarten or first grade in N. California in the 1970s. Barry McLaughlin has a book (1980s) on L2 acquisition in childhood. I suggest hunting around via Google Scholar...</div><div><br></div><div><div>I hope these remarks are helpful!</div><div><br></div><div>-marilyn vihman</div><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana; "><div><font face="Verdana" size="2"><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><o:p></o:p></span></font></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; ">Thanks in advance for any<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">help anyone is able to offer regarding this point.</span></font></font></div><p class="MsoNormal" align="left" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4"><span lang="EN-US"></span></font></font> </p><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4"><span lang="EN-US"></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><o:p><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4">Ellen</font></font></span></o:p></span></font></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: DotumChe; "><o:p><font face="@Dotum" size="4"> </font></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: DotumChe; "><o:p><font face="@Dotum" size="4"></font></o:p></span> </div><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: DotumChe; "><o:p>************************************************************************************************</o:p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" align="left" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4"></font></font></span> </p><p class="MsoNormal" align="left" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4"></font></font></span> </p><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4">Ellen Wang<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4">Ph.D. Student<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4">Children’s Language Development and Education Area<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4">Department of Preschool Education<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; ">East</span></st1:placename><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:placename w:st="on">China</st1:placename><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:placename w:st="on">Normal</st1:placename><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></span></st1:place><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><o:p></o:p></span></font></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: left; "><font face="@Dotum"><font size="4"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; ">Shanghai</span></st1:city><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; ">,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region></span></st1:place><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: DotumChe; "><o:p></o:p></span></font></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; "><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: GungsuhChe; "><o:p><font face="@Dotum" size="4"> </font></o:p></span></div></font></div><div><font face="@Dotum" size="4"></font> </div><div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p>--</p>You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Info-CHILDES" group.<br>To post to this group, send email to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:info-childes@googlegroups.com">info-childes@googlegroups.com</a>.<br>To unsubscribe from this group, send email to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:info-childes+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com">info-childes+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com</a>.<br>For more options, visit this group at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://groups.google.com/group/info-childes?hl=en">http://groups.google.com/group/info-childes?hl=en</a>.<br></div></span></blockquote></div><br><div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>Marilyn VIhman</div><div>Professor, Language and Linguistic Science</div><div>V/C/210, 2nd Floor, Block C, Vanbrugh College</div><div>University of York</div><div>Heslington</div><div>York YO10 5DD</div><div>tel 01904 433612</div><div>fax 01904 432673</div></div></span> </div><br></div></body></html>
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