An exploration in language pedagogy: developing oral language skills in three and four year old children in an early intervention setting
Year: 2008
Type: other
Abstract: The first aim of this study was to explore whether the aspects of adult speech to young\nchildren which have been identified in the literature as being facilitative of children’s\nlanguage development, could be adapted for use as teaching strategies. A second aim was to\nexamine whether these strategies could constitute an inclusive language pedagogy for early\nyears settings. The areas of language development considered were children’s acquisition of\nthe elements of the language system and their use of that system to engage in expository and\nnarrative discourses.\nThe study was designed as a qualitative, interactive enquiry located within the ethnographic\ntradition. The data collection technique was participant observation. The study was\nconducted through the generation of data, first hand, by the researcher adopting a teaching\nrole. Over one school year, during weekly visits to an early years setting, conversations\nbetween the researcher and the participants were generated and recorded in small group, oneto-one\nand whole group contexts.\nThe findings show how the use of a range of adult talk strategies contributed to the\ndevelopment of discourse skills in all of the participants. In Phase 2 of the study, all of the\nparticipants, including two children with serious language delay, were exhibiting knowledge\nof vocabulary and structure, engaging in discussion on topics, and presenting information to\nan audience, in ways which contrasted sharply with their communicative behaviours in\nPhase 1.\nThe findings of the study suggest the need for increased support for practitioners in language\nteaching and learning in early years settings in Ireland and for reform of curriculum and early\nintervention policy. Directions for future research to build on the findings from this study are\nalso suggested.
Author: Anne McGough
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2887952882