Mother-tongue Oral Language and Early Literacy for the Young

The project at a glance

Start date:

01 Jul 2018
Duration in months:

48
Funding:

FNR: Luxembourg National Research Fund
Principal Investigator(s):

Pascale ENGEL DE ABREU

About

Building on the POLILUX research project funded by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), MOLLY aims to develop an effective heritage language intervention for dual language learners from language-minority backgrounds in preschool. This innovative programme is designed to enhance oral language skills in young children, particularly those from immigrant backgrounds. Delivered in Portuguese, MOLLY focuses on improving key areas such as listening, speaking, vocabulary, storytelling, and phonological awareness. The programme includes engaging tools like “Molly the Frog,” which make learning fun and interactive. By combining direct instruction, active participation, and repetition, MOLLY aims to help children build a strong language foundation that supports their future learning. The effectiveness of the MOLLY intervention was tested in a randomised controlled trial involving 186 Portuguese-speaking children in Luxembourg, where Luxembourgish is the primary language of instruction in preschool. Children were randomly assigned to either the MOLLY language intervention or a control group receiving an active control intervention. Results showed that those in the MOLLY group made significant gains in their Portuguese language skills, including vocabulary, narrative skills, and phonemic awareness. Notably, the intervention also had positive transfer effects on Luxembourgish, with improvements observed in receptive vocabulary and phonemic awareness. The MOLLY team is excited to continue advancing this impactful project, seeking new ways to expand its reach and support language development for vulnerable children and communities.

Featured Publication:

Engel de Abreu, P. M. J., Nikaedo, C., Loff, A., Snowling, M. J., Hulme, C., & Fricke, S. (2024). Assessing the impact of a heritage language intervention in preschool: A controlled trial with dual language learners from language-minority backgrounds (Preprint). Open Science Framework.

Engel de Abreu, P. M. J, Loff, A., & Nikaedo, C. (2022). The MOLLY Early Language Intervention