A1 Journal article (refereed)
The Early Bird gets the Word (2019)

Meriläinen, M., & Piispanen, M. (2019). The Early Bird gets the Word. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 12(1), 11-17. https://doi.org/10.26822/iejee.2019155332

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Meriläinen, Merja; Piispanen, Maarika

Journal or series: International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education

ISSN: 1307-9298

Publication year: 2019

Volume: 12

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 11-17

Publisher: International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education

Publication country: Turkey

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26822/iejee.2019155332

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/65977

Abstract

Success in an increasingly globalized world sets requirements for versatile communication skills and understanding about other cultures. One of the keys to success is versatile language skills, on which the European Commission spoke out as early as in 1995, recommending that every European citizen should learn two foreign languages in addition to their mother tongue. Now, more than twenty years later, the launch of early foreign language teaching that is to begin in the first grade in Finland, in January 2020, is a significant step towards this goal. Studies show that early foreign language learning needs to be carefully carried out ln order to achieve positive effects and the effects that have been set for ¡t ¡n the national language program and curriculum. The age when language teaching is started ¡s, however, just one of many variables that are seen to be relevant to the development of foreign language skills in the framework of early foreign language teaching and learning. As early foreign language teaching is a very recent area of teaching in Finland, the policy - makers and teachers play a significant role in creating new kind of learning environments, operating culture and pedagogy for foreign language learning. This article discusses early foreign language learning landscape in the context of early foreign language learning theory initial education pedagogy as well as functional foreign language learning. The cornerstone of this study is the Contextual Pedagogical approach to Learning, which creates a bridge between the theory and practice of early foreign language learning, creating an inspiring and stimulating basis for later language learning.

Keywords: language teaching; foreign languages; language learning; learning environment; contextuality; functionality

Free keywords: early foreign language learning; functional language learning; learning environments; contextual-pedagogical approach to learning

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2019

JUFO rating: 1