Supporting Multilingual Learners In The Early Years

Product Description

Are children who are exposed to more than one language from birth at an advantage or a disadvantage when starting school? Supporting Multilingual Learners in the Early Years" examines the theoretical ideological & practical issues involved in the education of children speaking two or more languages coming to settings which are predominantly monolingual. The book examines current research & thinking about the advantages & disadvantages of being multilingual & tackles complex topics such as: what being multilingual implies in terms of prior learning & why this matters in education; the importance of respect for diversity & encouraging children to be proud of their language & culture; practical ways to help young children acquire English; ways of working with parents who themselves have little or no English; the differences & difficulties involved in a child learning an additional language so early on in their lives; strategies for exploring the learning of multilingual learners; & a review of the resources & activities that could help. Sandra Smidt views multilingualism as a cognitive advantage & shows how early years practitioners can use interactive styles of learning to focus on the benefit that the many cultures & languages in the classroom can bring to childrens learning & development. Written in a highly accessible tone this book offers practitioners a mix of practical case studies & examples in which theory are embedded & its importance explained. Students of early childhood education will also appreciate the authors carefully structured approach to the topic as she

Includes:: summary boxes glossaries & points for reflection in each chapter."