Exploring Language through Multicultural Literature

This report describes a project that used children's literature to introduce 6- and 7-year-old children (n=25) in the United States to other languages to arouse their interest in finding out more about language. Most of the children were monolingual and spoke English; two boys spoke some Spanish. The study was conducted to see if young children's awareness about languages could be raised by their examination of children's books written in several different foreign languages, several of which were similar to stories that the children had read in English. The children were grouped into groups of 4 or 5 for about 45 minutes; each group met to look at the books on four separate occasions. The children were fascinated with the books and were quick to pick out similarities and differences in the print; they were curious, perceptive, and eager to talk about the languages. Findings demonstrate that children's literature can be one meaningful way to introduce young children to other cultures and languages while, at the same time, raising their awareness of their own first language. (Contains 16 references.) (Author/NAV)