Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology
Volume 13, Issue 2, 2015, Pages 409-430
The evolution of language acquisition in immigrant students in Catalonia: The role of the home language (Article) (Open Access)
Sansó C.* ,
Navarro J.L. ,
Huguet Á.
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a
Departamento de Pedagogía y Psicología, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
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b
Departamento de Pedagogía y Psicología, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
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c
Departamento de Pedagogía y Psicología, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
Abstract
Introduction. The development of immigrant students' language proficiency is one of the main challenges facing education professionals today. Our study was a longitudinal analysis of Catalan and Spanish language acquisition. Method. Participants were 72 immigrant students (27 Spanish speakers and 45 non-Spanish speakers) enrolled in compulsory secondary education in Catalonia (Spain). Two different instruments were applied: a sociolinguistic questionnaire and a parallel psycholingustic test in Catalan and Spanish language. Results. Results indicate that the socioeducational context favors acquisition of both languages, and furthermore, it tends to equalize knowledge of these languages. Similarly, the home language variable lost its importance, as significant differences between Spanish- and non-Spanish speakers were not found. Conclusions. Beyond the connotations of language proficiency in the school context, these results may be an indication of this group's progressive adaptation to the host society. Furthermore, the results from Spanish- and non-Spanish speakers suggest that the Catalan context may diminish the initial significance of immigrant students' home language.
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Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84958166267&doi=10.14204%2fejrep.36.14081&partnerID=40&md5=a1da1ca6973359647dfe6004c7898e3c
DOI: 10.14204/ejrep.36.14081
ISSN: 16995880
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English