ERIC Number: EJ741826
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 11
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0015-718X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Early versus Late Start in Foreign Language Education: Documenting Achievements
Dominguez, Rocio; Pessoa, Silvia
Foreign Language Annals, v38 n4 p473-483 Win 2005
This study compares 27 sixth grade students who have been learning Spanish since kindergarten with 5 who have had Spanish for only 1 year using a battery of Spanish oral and written tests. The students who started early out performed the new students in listening, speaking, and writing Spanish. Those who started early also displayed a positive attitude toward speaking Spanish in the classroom, a high level of confidence in their Spanish oral and literacy skills, and the use of sophisticated language structures in writing. These findings provide additional evidence supporting the case for early foreign language learning. (Contain 2 figures and 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Comparative Analysis, Spanish, Speech Skills, Writing Skills, Emergent Literacy, Language Attitudes, Second Language Learning, Language Research, Performance Based Assessment, Task Analysis
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. 700 S. Washington Street Ste. 210, Alexandria, VA 22314. Tel: 703-894-2900; Fax: 703-894-2905; e-mail: headquarters@actfl.org; Web site: http://www.actfl.org.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 6
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A