Supporting the children's second language development in a functional bilingual day care

Abstract

The purpose of my thesis is to introduce various ways to support children’s second language development through everyday activities in a functional bilingual day care. I will implement various activities into the day care’s daily routine, in a way that would be beneficial in supporting the children’s second language. I will also take the learning environment, group, inclusion, and co-operation with parents into consideration during the thesis period, and their effects on children’s holistic learning and development. The work will be done in co-operation with Ankkalampi day care’s unit situated in Lauttasaari, Helsinki. In co-operation with the day care workers, I will plan creative activities to suit the children’s age group, which here is two years old, for their planned activity sessions as well as free play time. A personal aim for me during this thesis is also to better myself as a professional in the field of early childhood education and care and to develop better communication skills. This thesis will be done with a diary-based method, also known as PONT. This will include week reports done, based mainly on the planned activities implemented at the day care, important aspects that effect children’s overall learning and care, as well as of theoretical framework to support the activities and other themes. The theoretical framework will consist of theories on national curriculum for early childhood education and care, legislation, language learning, functional methods as well as games and plays. For theoretical work, I will be using printed books as well as electronic sources in both Finnish and English language. The aim of this thesis will be reached with continuous reflection on the work from the point of view of a day care teacher as well as feedback gotten from children, co-workers, and parents. Lastly by reflecting on the impact of the planned and unplanned activities in their second language development. This thesis will provide some examples of functional ways to support the children’s overall language development and highlight the factors that influence it.