English Language Learning Areas in Pre-School Classrooms: an investigation of their effectiveness in supporting EFL development

Start date: 1 October 2013
End date: 28 February 2015
Primary investigator: 00902096

The intention of the study is to develop, trial and evaluate an innovative approach to the teaching of English in pre-school classrooms in Korea and Portugal.

The approach will build on established good practice in pre-school education and will take into account the particular ways that very young children learn and use language in imaginative play, to regulate their thinking and actions in egocentric speech and in interactions with others.

Findings from the study will lead to a greater understanding about the processes involved in EFL teaching and learning in pre-school classrooms. This understanding will inform a framework to guide EFL teaching in pre-schools.