English as an Additional Language. Why must Educators Recognise Children's Bilingualism and First Language when Working within a Multicultural Preschool Setting?

Studienarbeit aus dem Jahr 2016 im Fachbereich Didaktik - Englisch - Pädagogik, Sprachwissenschaft, Note: 1,2, Freie Universität Berlin (Erziehungswissenschaften), Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: It seems that young children learning English as an Additional Language (EAL) are often expected to acquire English rapidly and naturally, without any further help. It appears that many settings do not give the role of the child's first language enough significance. Consequently we could argue, that their language learning needs are frequently being overlooked within the early-years sector. This paper focuses on the aspects that need to be considered by practitioners in order to convey the importance of adequate language assessment and support for EAL learners within the UK's early-years education sector and beyond.