Effects of Home Literacy Environment and Parental Beliefs on Additional Language Learners’ Literacy Development: A Closer Look at What Can Be Done to Facilitate the Process.

Abstract

According to Statistics Canada (2011), the foreign population represents 20% of the total Canadian population and around 75% of these new immigrants speak another language other than English. Experts in the field of education have concerns about the need of young bilingual learners. Research shows that early language experiences and emergent literacy are important precursors for children’s language development and reading success in the later years (Snow et al., 1998). Being an immigrant and an early childhood educators I am aware of the importance of additional language learning in immigrant families’ young children. Home Literacy Environment has been identified as an important factor influencing children’s literacy and language development (Whiteburst & Lonigan, 1998). This paper reviews current literature on Home Literacy Environment and the relationship between native and additional language learning. Ultimately, a series of workshops have been developed for immigrant families with young children to attend and as such facilitate their youngsters’ additional language learning.