Skip to main content
Log in

No Hablo Inglés: Bilingualism and multiculturalism in preschool settings

  • Articles
  • Published:
Early Childhood Education Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The projected 5.2 million non-English-speaking preschoolers that will enter early childhood programs in the year 2000 require developmentally appropriate bilingual programs. This article discusses the role and components of both bilingualism and multiculturalism in preschool settings. It further indicates implications for the preparation of teachers and suggests strategies that administrators of preschool settings could utilize in meeting needs of bilingual communities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker, C., & Garcia, O. (1995).Foundations of bilingual education & bilingualism (2nd ed. Great Britain: Multilingual Matters.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang, H. (1993).Affirming children’s roots: Culture and linguistic diversity in early care and education. San Francisco: California Tomorrow.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, J. (1992).Bilingual education: History, politics, theory and practice (2nd ed.). Los Angeles: Bilingual Education Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, J. (1997). Cognitive factors associated with the attainment of intermediate levels of bilingual skills.Modern Language Journal, 61, 3–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E. (1950).Childhood and society. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Espinosa, L. M. (1995).Hispanic parent involvement in early childhood programs (ERIC Digest. Urbana, IL: ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary & Early Childhood Education. (ED 382-412)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller, B., Eggers-Pierola, C. Holloway, S. D., Liang, X. & Rambund, M. (1994).Rich culture, poor markets: Why do Latino parents choose to forego preschooling? (ED 371 855). Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association and National Science Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia, E. (1995). The education of linguistically and culturally diverse students. Effective instructional practices. In G. Gonzalez & L. Maez (Eds.),Compendium of research on bilingual education (pp. 113–112). Washington, DC: The George Washington University, National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guyton, E. M., Saxton, R., & Wesche, M. (1996). Experiences of diverse students in teacher education.Teaching and Teacher Education, 12, 643–652.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martorrell, M. (1991). Language proficiency and giftedness among bilingual kindergartners. (Doctoral dissertation, Fordham University, 1995).Dissertation Abstracts International.

  • Meek, A. (1998). America’s teachers: much to celebrate.Educational Leadership, 55, 12–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLeod, B. (1996).School reform and student diversity: Exemplary schooling for language minority students. Washington, DC: The George Washington university, National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Association for the Education of Young Children. (1995). NAEYC position statement: Responding to linguistic and cultural diversity- recommendations for effective early childhood education.Young Children, 51(2); 4–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Narvarez, D. H. (1983). Making requests: An ethnographic study of communicative competence in the bilingual early childhood classroom. (Doctoral Dissertation, New York University, 1983).Dissertation Abstracts International.

  • National Center for Education Statistics. (1998).Projection of education statistics to 2008. Washington DC: U.S. Department of Education Research and Improvement.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nieto, S. (1992).Affirming diversity: The sociopolitical context of multicultural education. New York: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogoff, V., Gauvain, G., & Ellis, E. (1984). Development viewed in its cultural context. In M. H. Bornstein & M. E. Lamb (Eds.),Developmental psychology. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosanova, M. (1998). Early childhood bilingualism in the montessori’s house.Montessori Life, 10(2), 37–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz (1996).Hispanic preschool education: An important opportunity (ERIC Digest #113, ED 405-398).

  • Smith, F. (1995).Essays into human learning and education. Portsmouth, NH: Heineman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soto, L. D. (1991). Understanding bilingual/bicultural children.Young Children, 46(2): 30–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Su, Z. (1996). Why teach: profiles and entry perspectives of minority students as becoming teachers.Journal of Research and Development in Education, 29, 117–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tabors, P. (1997).One child, two languages. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong-Fillmore, L. (1991). When losing a second language means losing the first.Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 6, 323–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roy Ceferino Fernandez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fernandez, R.C. No Hablo Inglés: Bilingualism and multiculturalism in preschool settings. Early Childhood Educ J 27, 159–163 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02694229

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02694229

Key words

Navigation