ABSTRACT

The current study explored the home and school factors that are important for Singaporean pre-schoolers’ (N = 1440) early English development from K1 to P1. Language input quantity and quality factors at home (e.g., number of English books,) and at school (e.g., instructional support in class) were used to predict children’s English vocabulary and word reading development using linear mixed-effects models. Children’s internal factors (e.g., non-verbal reasoning) were controlled. The results revealed that children who had more English input and higher input quality at home demonstrated faster receptive vocabulary growth. Children’s word reading skill was more influenced by the English input quality at home. Children who were frequently read to in English demonstrated faster development in word reading competence. Mother’s educational level also mattered: higher maternal education was associated with faster growth in reading skill. The length of time children stayed at school and teachers’ qualification also significantly and positively associated with children’s English learning. These findings indicate the substantial contribution of the home literacy environment to Singaporean children’s early English language development, compared to the quality of teacher-child interactions in preschool. The necessity of more parental involvement in early English language learning at home is discussed under the realm of usage-based theory.

摘要

目前的研究探讨了对新加坡学龄前儿童 (N = 1440) 从 K1 到 P1 的早期英语发展很重要的家庭和学校因素。使用线性混合效应模型，使用家庭（例如英语书籍数量）和学校（例如课堂教学支持）的语言输入数量和质量因素来预测儿童的英语词汇和单词阅读发展。儿童的内部因素（例如，非语言推理）得到控制。结果显示，在家里有更多英语输入和更高输入质量的孩子表现出更快的接受性词汇增长。孩子的单词阅读能力更多地受家庭英语输入质量的影响。经常用英语朗读的孩子在单词阅读能力方面表现出更快的发展。母亲的教育水平也很重要：更高的母亲教育与更快的阅读技能增长有关。儿童在校时间和教师资格也与儿童的英语学习显着正相关。这些发现表明，与学前班师生互动的质量相比，家庭识字环境对新加坡儿童早期英语语言发展的贡献很大。在基于用法的理论领域讨论了父母更多参与在家早期英语语言学习的必要性。儿童在校时间和教师资格也与儿童的英语学习显着正相关。这些发现表明，与学前班师生互动的质量相比，家庭识字环境对新加坡儿童早期英语语言发展的贡献很大。在基于用法的理论领域讨论了父母更多参与在家早期英语语言学习的必要性。儿童在校时间和教师资格也与儿童的英语学习显着正相关。这些发现表明，与学前班师生互动的质量相比，家庭识字环境对新加坡儿童早期英语语言发展的贡献很大。在基于用法的理论领域讨论了父母更多参与在家早期英语语言学习的必要性。