New Opportunities and Shifts in Family Language Policy During School Closures

• In Event: Parent Language Perceptions and Ideologies in Bilingual/Dual-Language Contexts

Abstract

In this comparative case study, the shifts in family language policy which occurred in two bilingual families (Korean and Spanish) during school closures was explored. Findings suggest that: 1) families shifted their family language policies to provide children practice with the target language (TL), and; 2) the mothers in particular utilized their unique resources to provide new opportunities for their children’s second language acquisition. This study suggests that teachers can utilize bi/multilingual families by working with them to create new opportunities for children to continue their second language growth during school closures as teachers and schools have the responsibility to provide all students access to the TL as a matter of equity and social justice.

Author

• Heather Reichmuth, University of Southern Maine