Researchers from Laurentian University in Sudbury are conducting a study this month where they are engaging preschoolers with French literature to explore effective methods for enhancing their vocabulary. Roxanne Bélanger, a speech language pathologist at the university, explained that the focus is on imparting “tier 2” words to young children, which are more complex vocabulary items like “outrageous” that may not be part of their daily language repertoire.
Bélanger emphasized the importance of not just reading but explicitly teaching these words by providing clear definitions. Studies have indicated that children who grasp these words better tend to perform well academically. Chantal Mayer-Crittenden, another speech language pathologist at Laurentian involved in the research, highlighted that while similar studies have been conducted in the United States, the Laurentian study targets a younger age group, between two and a half and four years old.
Unlike previous studies, the focus of this research is on French-speaking children in a predominantly English-speaking community. Bélanger noted that children can effectively learn two languages if they are sufficiently exposed to them, but further research is necessary to identify optimal strategies for assisting French-speaking children with language delays in bilingual settings like Sudbury.
The ultimate goal of the research, according to Mayer-Crittenden, is to support parents and early childhood educators. The team aims to share their findings to benefit other children in minority language contexts, helping them acquire tier 2 vocabulary through book reading.