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Implementation and Evaluation of an Early Foreign Language Learning Project in Kindergarten

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Abstract

The purpose of present paper was twofold. Firstly, it aimed at outlining the rationale for and the process of introducing an English language learning intervention to kindergarten children in a playful and supportive environment. It focused on developing children’s oral skills through participating in creative child-appropriate activities and interacting in small groups. The intervention, extended in a period of an academic year, was coordinated in two phases; in the first, ‘warm-up’ phase, a visual approach was followed and in the second one, the basic phase of the intervention, 12 sessions of relevant topics were included, each one carried out in four steps. On the other hand, it aimed at investigating the degree to which ‘rule play’ could contribute to oral skills acquisition and vocabulary development. For this purpose, an effectiveness study was conducted which revealed the positive effects of the intervention on early foreign language learning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Educational Studies, Department of Primary Education, University of Western Macedonia, 3rd KLM Florina Niki, 531 00, Florina, Greece

    Eleni Griva

  2. School of Educational Studies, Department of Early Childhood Education, University of Western Macedonia, 3rd KLM Florina Niki, 531 00, Florina, Greece

    Rena Sivropoulou

Authors
  1. Eleni Griva
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  2. Rena Sivropoulou
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Correspondence to Eleni Griva.

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Griva, E., Sivropoulou, R. Implementation and Evaluation of an Early Foreign Language Learning Project in Kindergarten. Early Childhood Educ J 37, 79–87 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-009-0314-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-009-0314-3

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