This study investigates the beliefs of primary school teachers about multilingual language teaching and learning approaches and examines the relationship between these beliefs and the current ideas on multilingualism. This paper reports key elements of the multilingual educational reality in the Basque Country, where a minority language (Basque),…

Language-responsive instructional approaches are intended to enhance the mathematics learning of students with low academic language proficiency, mostly by enriching mathematical content trajectories with systematic language-learning opportunities. However, little is known about their effects (and in particular differential effects) in…

Originating in adult education, the approach of task-based language teaching (TBLT) has been promoted in young language learner (YLL) education. However, its application often encounters challenges due to varying interpretations of what constitutes a "task." Previous research has repeatedly highlighted gaps in teachers' understanding of…

This book introduces the main concepts of pragmatics as they relate to the young English language learner classroom and research with young second language learners (YLLs). It considers the speech acts which are particularly relevant to YLLs and presents research findings on learners' development of speech act perception and production. It…

This brief is part of a series that highlights key features of high-quality instruction for English learners and the role formative assessment plays in their success. Formative assessment supports teachers to enact these features by providing them with tools to gauge and react to student learning in real-time. These practices also support students…

An increasing body of research has explored patterns of interaction and peer support among young learners. Although some studies suggest that young learners can engage in collaboration when interacting on tasks, other studies indicate the opposite. Moreover, despite the claims that peer collaboration is conducive to learning, studies have not paid…

The aim of this study is to investigate teachers' experiences with the utilization of scaffolding techniques, such as translation, modeling, feedback, group work, activating prior knowledge, pre-teaching vocabulary, and visual aids, in elementary school classrooms. The primary objectives are to gain insights into the techniques employed by…

As language programs are endangered in K-16 contexts due to low enrollments, and for budgetary reasons, it is more important than ever to find enduring ways to help promote the study of languages and to make studying languages enjoyable for everyone. For sustainable language education, we need to focus on and promote the true purpose of…

Pronunciation is a crucial component of language acquisition, vital for achieving clarity and fluency in communication. This study, utilizing cycles of action research, aimed to evaluate the impact of songs on the pronunciation skills of Thai EFL learners. Additionally, this study explored the participants' perceptions of using songs in their…

This systematic review reports on research investigating the impact of multi-word unit (MWU) input on young learners' second language (L2) attainment in instructed settings. Recent findings suggest that L2 learners can generalise from MWU input, abstract patterns and employ such schemata productively via slot-filling, indicating that MWUs are key…

This longitudinal case study examined the impact of in-service teacher professional development (PD) on teacher cognition relative to multilingualism and pedagogical practices in linguistically diverse classrooms. Two teachers of English as an additional language (EAL) at a primary school in Norway, who teach large numbers of linguistically and…

As one of the productive skills, writing is highly required to be mastered in English as a foreign language. Moreover, communication can occur not only in spoken form but also in written form. In creating a good learning atmosphere for the students, teachers try to use the most appropriate approach to achieve the learning goals, especially in…

Many scholars have identified teacher education (TE) as a crucial site for strengthening the research-practice interface. Much of this work has focused on formal TE opportunities, English-language instructors, or university-level contexts. Less is known about how other educator demographics engage with second language (L2) research throughout…

This article introduces a set of teaching strategies to enhance second language learning for students with Down syndrome (DS) enrolled in an English course covering material from the first two years of primary school. A set of instructional support strategies has been defined and integrated into an online learning software, developed ad hoc to…

Over the past six decades, the field of teaching modern foreign languages to young learners has come a long way, from the early surmises about the advantages of a young start to today's widespread integration of foreign languages into curricula in public and private schools. The chapters in this book bring together internationally renowned…