Using phonics to develop the emergent English literacy skills of Spanish learners

Phonics is well established in the English-speaking world, but to date it has been implemented to only a limited extent in contexts where English is a foreign language. This study aimed at evaluating the appropriateness of phonics for developing literacy skills of Spanish learners of English. An exp...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Rendón Romero, Sara Isabel, Navarro Pablo, Macarena, García Jiménez, Eduardo
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/147533
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/147533
https://doi.org/10.30827/portalin.v0i35.16876
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Phonics
Biliteracy
Spanish
English
Literacy methods
Fonética
Alfabetización bilingüe
Español
Inglés
Métodos de alfabetización
Descripción
Sumario:Phonics is well established in the English-speaking world, but to date it has been implemented to only a limited extent in contexts where English is a foreign language. This study aimed at evaluating the appropriateness of phonics for developing literacy skills of Spanish learners of English. An experimental pre-test – post-test design was used to de- termine the method’s added value. The sample consisted of two equivalent groups in a Span- ish bilingual state primary school, a control and a treatment group, where a phonic method was implemented by the researcher. Data were collected through tests measuring emergent Spanish and English literacy skills. Non-parametric tests and correlations were used for data analysis. The treatment group presented a significant improvement in phonological aware- ness, naming and letter and pseudo-word reading in the Spanish and English post-test. These 7-year-old children attained a level in English literacy skills equivalent to English children aged 5.8. The findings also suggested a positive transference of skills between English word reading and Spanish pseudo-word reading. The present study can serve as a possible pro- posal to help improve our Spanish bilingual programmes through the use of phonics in the early years in order to increase learners’ English reading level.