Bilingual Books-Biliterate Children: Learning to Read Through Dual Language Books

by Raymonde Sneddon

Overview

This fascinating study shows how young children work simultaneously in two languages to decode unfamiliar text, negotiate meaning and explore the differences between their languages. Set in the context of current research and practice in relation to multiliteracy, personal and learner identity, and issues in translation, the book explores dual language books and their use since the 1980s.

Developed from action research work by primary teachers, the book follows seven children aged 6 to 10 as they use dual language storybooks to learn to read in Albanian, Urdu, Turkish, French and Gujerati, with the help of their mothers or their friends.

Teachers, parents and researchers will find the book invaluable. It explores the nature and benefits of biliteracy and offers ideas and strategies for teaching young children languages, whether by developing their bilingualism or teaching them new ones.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781858564609
Publisher:	Stylus Publishing, LLC
Publication date:	11/13/2009
Pages:	188
Sales rank:	279,165
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Raymonde Sneddon is a French/English bilingual who loves playing with languages. She was a primary teacher in east London who specialized in working with bilingual children, their families and communities and is now Research Fellow at the University of East London.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction
1) Context and History
2) Language Use and Literacy Practices in Families and Communities
3) Issues in Identity
4) Issues in Translation
5) Magda and Albana
6) The suraj, the sun, is inside the mashriq, and it comes out
7) Practice, Pleasure and Persistance: Collaborative Learning in Turkish
8) Sarah the Reader
9) Mohammed—Learning to Read in Gujarati
10) Bilingual Books—Biliterate Children?
Appendix: Practical Ideas for the Classroom: Further Reading
Website Resources
References
Index