Exposing Preschoolers to the Printed Word: A Case Study of Preschool Teachers in Mauritius

Autor/in	Owodally, Ambarin Mooznah Auleear
Titel	Exposing Preschoolers to the Printed Word: A Case Study of Preschool Teachers in Mauritius
Quelle	In: Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, 13 (2013) 1, S.52-97 (46 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1468-7984
DOI	10.1177/1468798411429933
Schlagwörter	Stellungnahme; Teaching Methods; Linguistics; Foreign Countries; Speech; Second Language Learning; Decoding (Reading); Multilingualism; Preschool Teachers; Oral Language; Creoles; Preschool Children; Case Studies; English; French; Emergent Literacy; Printed Materials; Bilingualism; Language Usage; Classroom Environment; Mauritius + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Linguistik; Ausland; Speaking; Sprechen; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Dekodierung; Mehrsprachigkeit; Multilingualismus; Pre-school education; Preschool education; Erzieher; Erzieherin; Kindergärtnerin; Vorschulerziehung; Vorschule; Oral interpretation; Mündlicher Sprachgebrauch; Kreole; Pre-school age; Preschool age; Child; Children; Vorschulalter; Kind; Kinder; Vorschulkind; Vorschulkinder; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; English language; Englisch; Französisch; Frühleseunterricht; Bilingualismus; Sprachgebrauch; Klassenklima; Unterrichtsklima
Abstract	Mauritius is a multilingual island, where there is a linguistic and literacy paradox. While Mauritian Creole dominates as the spoken language of the population, English and French are the main print languages, as well as the main languages of literacy and education. In such a complex situation, preschool is an interesting terrain in which to observe children's first official introduction to the printed word. The aim of this paper is to consider the ways in which preschool teachers expose children to print and decoding skills and some of the factors shaping their choices and pedagogical practices. This paper uses data from a longitudinal case study, using an ethnographic approach, to describe and analyse the strategies used by three teachers as they expose a group of four- to five-year-olds to the printed word in a government preschool. I argue that in foreign language contexts such as Mauritius, children's exposure to the printed word is often cosmetic and educational, with emphasis on the direct teaching of some decoding skills. I also argue that the relationship that the children build with print is one of seriousness, associated with schoolwork, thus playing down the meaning-making, more playful and more entertaining functions and uses of print. This is related to local linguistic, sociocultural and educational factors. (Contains 5 tables, 10 figures and 3 notes.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10