Early Foreign Language Learning and Plurilingual Education

EARLY FOREIGN LANGAUGE LEARNING AND PLURILINGUAL EDUCATION

Hanne Thomsen, senior lecturer
University College Copenhagen

A presentation of key principles for 'EARLY FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING AND PLURILINGUAL EDUCATION – based on a 36 month research project.

The project was set up to meet new requirements for early English as specified in a new School Reform in Denmark.

The action research project was carried out by teachers of English from different schools in Copenhagen in close cooperation with teacher educators and researchers from the University College Copenhagen and the University of Copenhagen.

Comprehensive research-based and practice-oriented acquisition of knowledge provided the basis for the development of a new beginner didactics with a focus on plurilingualism.

Practice-oriented has been a keyword for the project. Groups of teachers have been instrumental in creating and evaluating teaching methods in their classes and thus ensured the development of practically qualified teaching plans and materials.

Apart from emphasising active participation during classes and meaningful use of the language, the focus on comparing the words and expressions of the new language to other languages represented in the classroom has been a genuine strength of the project. This inclusion of plurilingualism has not only contributed to a high level of language awareness but also to a recognition of the home languages of many of the pupils.

The poster presentation will focus on one of the project results, KEY PRINCIPLES FOR EARLY LANGUAGE LEARNING AND PLURILINGUAL EDUCATION but will also include examples from the teaching material and the publication that is now available (in Danish) for teachers of English.