17. English for Young Learners (EYL) in grades 1 and 2 in Israel: A critical discourse analysis

Carmel, Rivi

doi:10.1515/9783110218282.403

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 5 publications

(8 reference statements)

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“…They consider the promotion of EYL to be an essential part of being and acting as good, responsible, parents, preparing their children for the global market. This finding is in line with the previous research on EYL in Israel which highlighted parents’ commitment and investment in EYL (Carmel, 2009). This finding also supports the evidently increasing pressure coming from parents who wish their children to benefit from new global opportunities (Enever et al, 2009; Nikolov, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…The high status of English and its popularity among non-native English speakers is also linked to the growing interest in teaching English to young learners (EYL) (Copland, Garton & Burns, 2014; Nikolov, 2016). In Israel, EYL began to gain momentum more than a decade ago, a trend that continues to the present day (Carmel, 2009; Olshtain & Inbar-Lourie, 2014; Vysvalai, 2017). Today, although the official grade for starting English in school is Grade 4, more that 65% of schools in the country introduce English in Grade 1 and almost 90% of the schools introduce English in Grades 2 and 3 (Olshtain & Inbar-Lourie, 2014; Vysvalai, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Speakers of many languages can ‘capitalize’ on their knowledge of different languages and enjoy ‘linguistic capital’ which is a form of ‘human capital’: knowledge, skills and other cultural acquisitions people have (Bourdieu, 1977, 1991), giving them a more central position in the global economy. Thus, parents, who are keen to promote English, make efforts to find intensive, quality English learning frameworks for their children, seeking to empower them with English, the lingua franca, which is seen as a valuable commodity (Carmel, 2009; Nikolov, 2016). Thus, learning second/foreign languages at a young age is seen as an important factor affecting children’s future with clear implications for improving their chances of success.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A report on the status of EYL in the formal education setting in Israel submitted to the committee for children’s rights in the Knesset (Israeli parliament), emphasized that pressure from parents was a key factor in promoting EYL in schools (Vysvalai, 2017). Furthermore, a study critically analyzing discourse on EYL revealed that ‘the discourse of EYL acts as a powerful force in the promotion of EYL in schools, affecting schools’ agendas, regulating classroom practices, shaping everyday life and people’s social practices’ (Carmel, 2009, p. 403).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Parents’ discourse on English for young learners

Carmel

2019

Language Teaching Research

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English, the global lingua franca, enjoys a growing status worldwide. The high status of English is also linked to the increasing interest in teaching English to young learners (EYL), and is reciprocally linked to complex political, cultural and social forces. Research on the advantages of learning English at a young age is controversial and inconclusive, but despite uncertainties it seems that EYL will continue to be a growing trend. This study aimed to understand the forces that drive the EYL phenomenon and focuses on the analysis of parent’s discourse from a critical discursive sociocultural perspective. Findings illuminate the subtle, powerful ways in which parents’ discourse leads to the growing of EYL in Israel. Parents’ overenthusiasm to promote English in schools stems from their perceptions about the high value of English, global aspirations and their belief in the popular axiom ‘the younger the better’. Findings further suggest that decisions about EYL and its teaching are not necessarily based on professionals or academics but rather exist within the powers of the community, with parents being a dominant force.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Parents’ discourse on English for young learners

Carmel

2019

Language Teaching Research

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“…A different approach was used by Carmel (2009). She applied critical discourse analysis to English for YLs.…”

Section: Social Background and Equitymentioning

confidence: 99%

All Shades of Every Color: An Overview of Early Teaching and Learning of Foreign Languages

Nikolov

Djigunović²

2011

Ann Rev Appl Linguist

109

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The paper analyzes research published over the last five years. The first part looks into policy documents, types of programs, and surveys to identify (a) reasons why an early start to learning languages is seen as beneficial and under what conditions; (b) possible threats; and (c) the aims and expected outcomes that are predicted by various models. The second part discusses studies on learners, including what they do in classrooms, how they perform on tasks, how their languages interact, and how they develop in different skills. A separate section reviews individual differences in the affective, cognitive, and strategic domains, as well as the role of learners’ socioeconomic status and their learning difficulties. In the third part, we draw on classroom observation and interview studies to discuss teachers’ roles, proficiency and uses of languages, and beliefs and practices. In the fourth part, we focus on the assessment of young learners; more specifically, we review what the construct of assessment is, what various assessment frameworks include, what international and national examinations exist, and what assessment for learning involves. Finally, in the last section we review implications for further research.

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English Education Policy in Israel

Shohamy

2016

Language Policy

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17. English for Young Learners (EYL) in grades 1 and 2 in Israel: A critical discourse analysis

Cited by 4 publications

References 5 publications

Parents’ discourse on English for young learners

Parents’ discourse on English for young learners

All Shades of Every Color: An Overview of Early Teaching and Learning of Foreign Languages

English Education Policy in Israel

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