Project Summary: Early Language Learning in Europe (ELLiE)

Given the European priority for introducing early foreign languages in schools, there now exists an urgent need for both qualitative and quantitative evidence on the precise nature and outcomes of ELL, as highlighted by the recent European Commission Report "Languages for the children of Europe" (Edelenbos et al, 2006). It is anticipated that this research will provide a much-needed body of data of sufficient scale to offer the kind of validity that previous studies have been unable to achieve, with the potential to strategically inform both future policy and practice.

No large-scale data resource currently exists. Across the 36 months of the study the research team will collect data on learner characteristics, learner attitudes and motivation using a range of research tools, including interviews, questionnaires and observation. Triangulation of data on learner characteristics will be secured through parent questionnaires, teacher assessment of learners' skills and abilities, classroom observation and learners' self-assessment. The teaching variable will be measured by means of classroom observation, school principal and teacher interview and teacher questionnaire. Learners' foreign language (FL) development will be recorded across time using a range of communicative language tasks. The collected data will be subjected to both qualitative and quantitative analyses, incorporating single and multivariate statistical procedures to analyse the interrelationships among the included variables. This substantial body of data will provide a valuable resource in identifying those factors most likely to effectively lay the foundations of successful FL learning and further clarify those factors which may perpetuate continuing weaknesses in classroom learning.

Dissemination of research findings is a central part of this comparative research study from the very beginning of the project. See the Calendar of Events for regular postings of presentations given at local, regional and national teacher  events and international research conferences. See the Outcomes & Publications page for annual interim reports of findings, conference presentations and published papers.

Supported by

This research project is supported by a European Commission grant under the Lifelong Learning Programme, Project n°. 135632-LLP-2007-UK-KA1SCR.

An additional British Council grant supports the Croatian team.