ask for suggestions on research methodology

[marilyn vihman]

Dear Ellen,

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...

On 15 Dec 2009, at 13:20, yqwang wrote:

> This is the first time I ask for help here. I am looking forward for  
> your kind suggestions.
>
> In my Ph.D. dissertation, I want to conduct a study on kindergarten  
> English instruction. Since 1990s, parents are crazy for young kids’  
> English learning in China. It’s a fact in Shanghai 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?  
> Can the early start guarantee more success?
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.

> What are the optimal conditions for children to learn a foreign  
> language?
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.

> I think a careful study is necessary and of great significance to  
> both parents and kindergarten teachers.　How can I conduct my study  
> effectively?  Is there anyone have done relevant studies?Suggestions  
> on methodology are especially welcome.
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.

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...

I hope these remarks are helpful!

-marilyn vihman
> Thanks in advance for any help anyone is able to offer regarding  
> this point.
>
> Ellen
>
>
> ************************************************************************************************
>
>
> Ellen Wang
> Ph.D. Student
> Children’s Language Development and Education Area
> Department of Preschool Education
> East China Normal University
> Shanghai, China
>
>
>
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Marilyn VIhman
Professor, Language and Linguistic Science
V/C/210, 2nd Floor, Block C, Vanbrugh College
University of York
Heslington
York YO10 5DD
tel 01904 433612
fax 01904 432673

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