Authors
Johanne Paradis, Adriana Soto-Corominas, Xi Chen, Alexandra Gottardo
Publication date
2020/11
Journal
Applied Psycholinguistics
Volume
41
Issue
6
Pages
1255-1281
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Description
Research on the bilingual development of refugee children is limited, despite this group having distinct characteristics and migration experiences that could impact language development. This study examined the role of language environment factors, alongside age and cognitive factors, in shaping the Arabic as a first/heritage language and English as a second language of recently arrived Syrian refugee children in Canada (N = 133; mean age = 9 years old; mean family residency = 23 months). We found that Arabic was the primary home language with some English use among siblings. Children did not engage frequently in language-rich activities in either language, especially not literacy activities in Arabic. Parent education levels were low: most had primary school only. Hierarchical regression models revealed that stronger nonverbal reasoning skills, more exposure to English at school, more sibling interaction …
Total citations
20202021202220232024512152311