Bilingual language acquisition in preschool age: The emotional context of kindergarten daily routines

Abstrakt

This study aims to enhance bilingual language acquisition in very young children in a Portuguese kindergarten. The promotion of children’s language and cognition is done through access to another language – English – in their daily context by incorporating the language into the children’s routines and school daily activities. We collected data from an immersion teacher training program towards bilingualism use, the development of their assistants’ English language fluency, the parents’ awareness and beliefs about English and children’s language development. The sample includes 140 children, aged 5 months to 6 years, teachers and teaching assistants. Teachers have changed their language beliefs concerning English and the program has influenced their practice. The results showed that children develop communicative skills in both languages when surrounded by a bilingual friendly and emotional environment. They use both languages in their everyday life and have created a positive and emotional relationship with the English.