Early Language Learning
The trend towards introducing the teaching of additional languages (foreign, second, minority, home) from an increasingly early age has continued to escalate in schools worldwide during the 21st century. The majority of school systems globally have either introduced additional languages in primary schools or are considering doing so in the near future and we are now also beginning to see the growth of pre-school provision for additional languages across a number of countries. Substantially more research is needed to help clarify our understandings of what is achievable with younger learners and under what conditions learning can be effective.
With the launch of this international network we hope to raise the profile of research in early languages learning, contribute to the growth of national and regional research groups and stimulate new research on a range of themes in the field. Over the coming three years we are planning research seminars, regional and international conferences, together with a variety of publications.
The trend towards introducing the teaching of additional languages (foreign, second, minority, home) from an increasingly early age has continued to escalate in schools worldwide during the 21st century. The majority of school systems globally have either introduced additional languages in primary schools or are considering doing so in the near future and we are now also beginning to see the growth of pre-school provision for additional languages across a number of countries. Substantially more research is needed to help clarify our understandings of what is achievable with younger learners and under what conditions learning can be effective.
With the launch of this international network we hope to raise the profile of research in early languages learning, contribute to the growth of national and regional research groups and stimulate new research on a range of themes in the field. Over the coming three years we are planning research seminars, regional and international conferences, together with a variety of publications.
