This report will be useful to a variety of stakeholders.
It will interest those involved in the education of children
who speak languages other than, and in addition to,
English at home or at school. The intention is to help all
stakeholders consider parents as an important partner
in the English language education of young learners.
This resource is a window into the types of traditions
found in many different cultures for connecting schools
with families. With globalisation and increased mobility
of families and teachers in different cultural contexts,
there is a high likelihood that children may not be
attending schools in the same cultural context as
their parents. Although not all countries and cultures
are covered, this study, nevertheless, provides
examples of, and a framework for, parental inclusion
in young learner ELT. The resource will be useful in
countries where English is not the dominant public
language, for example in Mexico, as well as in countries
where English is a major language, such as Singapore.
It will also be useful in countries where English is being
taught as an additional language, such as Northern
Ireland and the United States.
The resource is appropriate for educators working in
both public and private sectors. When we conducted
the research, we were mindful of this and made certain
that we contacted teachers working in both sectors.
Parents have slightly different roles in private schools,
in which they have to pay tuition, than in public schools,
in which the education is funded by the Ministry of
Education. There are also schools which receive some
funding from the government as well as private
additional payments from parents.
Although the intention of this research was to provide
strategies and techniques for educators working in
countries where English is not the public or official
language, we feel that it will also be useful for educators
working in English-speaking countries with children
speaking languages other than English in the home.
This resource will hopefully help educators consider
home–school connections that occur in the countries
of origin of their EAL pupils.