Literacy

In England, EAL learners are required to follow the National Curriculum for English specifications and related national strategies programmes of work. Research is needed on the literacy development of linguistic minority pupils, particularly in the context of the current focus on school literacy.

Current UK Research

Summary - The development of comprehension-related skills in children learning EAL

A 3 year longitudinal study of EAL pupils from Year 2 to 4

Summary - Writing in English as an Additional Language at Key Stage 2

Writing in English as an Additional Language at Key Stage 2 Research Brief

Writing in English as an Additional Language at Key Stage 2 Research Report

This 2004 research (RB586) was commissioned by the DfES to look at the writing of pupils who are 'advanced' learners of English

Summary - Writing in EAL at Key Stage 4 and post-16

Research Report - Writing in EAL at Key Stage 4 and post-16

This 2003 Ofsted study (Ref. HMI 1094) commissioned in the context of concern over 'underachievement' of EAL learners

Summary - “Invisible” teachers of literacy: collusion between siblings and teachers in creating classroom cultures.
This report, on a longitudinal study of family literacy practices in East London, investigates the role of siblings in the development of literacy in young children from the British Bangladeshi community.

Summary - Signs of difference: How children learn to write in different scripts

A summary of this 2000-2002 ESRC funded project

Signs of difference: How Children Learn to Write in Different Script Systems

End of award report of the findings of this 2000-2002 ESRC funded project

Key Readings

King's College London Working Papers, Urban Language and Literacies

A collection of papers on language and literacy in urban UK school contexts

Online research overviews

A systematic review of the impact of ICT on literacy learning in English of EAL learners.

This systematic review of the impact of ICT on literacy learning of EAL learners based on a review of 212 of over 2000 potentially relevant studies concluded that there is little evidence of any impact.

Writing skills: improving ESL learners' writing skills

A digest from the ERIC database giving an overview of the topic and full references to source more detailed information.

Further Reading

Literacy,  formerly Reading, Literacy and Language

Published by Blackwells for the United Kingdom Literacy Association,

Editor: Professor Henrietta Dombey

Publishes research in all areas of language and literacy development and is aimed at teachers, students, researchers and teacher educators.

Published a special issue on Multilingual Literacies in November 2002 (Vol. 36 N.3)

Journal of Research in Reading

Published by Blackwells for the United Kingdom Literacy Association.

Editor: Dr John R. Beech.

The journal is primarily aimed at researchers and publishes studies in reading and related areas.

Published a special issue on The Development of Literacy by bilingual and Multilingual Children in February 2003 (Vol. 26 N.1)