The aim of this project was to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a preschool oral language intervention in language-minority children’s first language (L1). Within a randomised controlled study design, a 30-weeks long intervention was developed to target both oral language and phonological awareness skills. Portuguese-speaking language-minority children (n=186) from 16 preschools across Luxembourg were assessed in Portuguese (L1) and Luxembourgish (L2) and were randomly assigned to a Portuguese oral language intervention group or an active control condition. Pre- and post-test results of this RCT will be presented. Findings will determine whether the intervention was effective in supporting children’s L1 and whether potential effects transferred to skills in their L2. Findings have potential long-term implications for social and education policies. Results can inform current provision for language-minority children and may mean an urgently needed step towards the development of informed support for these vulnerable populations.
Dr Pascale Engel de Abreu is a Developmental Psychologist and Associate Professor at the University of Luxembourg where she is leading the Language and Cognitive Development Group. In her research she is studying the cognitive processing of language in infants and young children. She particularly focuses on how the learning and using of multiple languages can affect the mind of our children and what children need to best learn languages.