Location: Rehua
This research explores how education supports the goal of securing early literacy success for children growing up as bilingual. The primary focus of this project has been the development of New Zealand’s first phonological awareness assessment tool for Samoan-speaking children. Data on 100 participants (Year 2, 6-year-old Samoan children) in four schools in Samoa has been collected to establish a baseline of phonological awareness development in native Samoan speakers. This research will support educators in both Samoa and New Zealand to evaluate phonological awareness development in Samoan-speaking children, and in children who are emerging bilingual in English and Samoan, and to monitor the impact of early classroom instruction on developing these foundation skills that are critical for early literacy success.
Working thesis title
Identifying the most effective strategies in early literacy learning of emergent bilingual learners in a multicultural New Zealand - Pasifika context
