<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Dear Ellen,<div><br></div><div>I second Marilyn Vihman's suggestions for your research questions. Young children can learn *about* English, and they can enjoy some songs and games in English from casual programs, but they will not learn to use the language without a serious and continuous commitment to create an immersion situation for at least part of their day, several days a week. My own children participated in Spanish for English speakers when they were in elementary school in Miami. Classes were 20 minutes or so per day, three or four times a week. I am not aware of any studies evaluating them, but children who took them were given no credit for them when it came to language classes in junior high school, and within a month or so, children who didn't take them seemed to know as much as those who did. </div><div><br></div><div>The program is called "World Languages" by the Miami-Dade Public Schools: <a href="http://bilingual.dadeschools.net/">http://bilingual.dadeschools.net/</a> I called the Office of Educational Accountability to see if there has been any official evaluation of the learning that takes place in those programs. The director said that the 20 minutes a day, 4 times a week was a disaster. It might have worked, but no one ever did the whole program. Children were always being pulled out for something else. She sent me a study of a slightly different model, however, which was done in-house by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-size: 10px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0F0F0F">Schneyderman and Abella </font></span></font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: medium; ">and was just published on line in a Taylor & Francis journal: </span></span></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#11000D" face="Arial"><i><br></i></font></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-size: 10px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 9px; "><i><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#11000D">Bilingual Research Journal</font></span></font></i><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#11000D">, 32: 241–259, 2009. </font></span></font></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-size: 10px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 9px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#11000D"></font></span></font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#11000D"><a href="http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title">http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title</a>~content=t909204797. </font></span></font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 9px; "> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-size: 10px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 9px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 9px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">This newer program is called "Extended Foreign Language" with two models: 1 hour of Spanish language arts per day, or 1 hour of Spanish language arts plus 1/2 hour of science or social studies in Spanish. The research followed a sample of children from kindergarten to 3rd grade, some native Spanish speakers, but the more interesting ones for your purposes were the non-Hispanic children. One analysis compared the two programs to each other, and another compared the participants' English and Math standardized (FCAT) scores to a carefully matched control sample. The two models of the program were not very different in outcome for the native Spanish speakers (and the students were above the national averages for the normed reading tests in Spanish). Not surprisingly, the non-native Spanish speakers did somewhat better with the extra half-hour per day than with just one hour. One chart shows that by 3rd grade, 53% with 1 hour a day, and 61% with 1.5 hours a day scored "fluent" on the LAS-O. (The native speakers went from 61% to 91% fluent speakers in that time.) By 3rd grade, native speakers had no "non-speakers" according to the LAS; the 1.5 hours/day program had 9% "non-speakers" but the 1-hour a day program had 31% non-speakers. In the second analysis, all the program children did as well as or better than the controls in their state testing.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><br></div><div>Anyway, I think there's something there to give you some ideas. Let me know if you have any trouble downloading the article and I will send it to you.</div><div><br></div><div>(I will also add that the book of mine Marilyn Vihman mentions (Raising a Bilingual Child, 2008) is written for parents, but you can get page-by-page references for the material in it at my website, so it may be a good start for your dissertation project. </div><div><a href="http://www.zurer.com/pearson/bilingualchild/Notes-newpages3.html)">http://www.zurer.com/pearson/bilingualchild/Notes-newpages3.html)</a></div><div>I am also happy to try to answer any questions if I can. : )</div><div><br></div><div>Good luck. Yours is a question the world is waiting to hear an answer to.</div><div><br></div><div>Cheers,</div><div>Barbara</div><div><br><div><div>On Dec 15, 2009, at 3:21 PM, marilyn vihman wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div 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="font-size: 12px; "><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></div></div></blockquote></div><br></div><br><br><div apple-content-edited="true"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; 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