Home Literacy Practices and Bilingual Literacy Development in Chinese-Speaking Families

• In Event: Home Literacy Environment Matters

Abstract

This paper explores how home literacy practices predict the bilingual literacy development of children in Chinese-speaking families. We conducted a secondary analysis using data collected for a larger-scale study with 118 parent-child pairs in EFL settings. The multiple regression analysis results showed that the English home literacy practices predicted the literacy development in both Chinese and English, suggesting a possible cross-linguistic transfer of literacy skills. Meanwhile, Chinese home literacy practices were not significantly associated with children’s bilingual literacy development. Our findings have critical implications for parents and educators that for children in EFL settings, more frequent home literacy in English benefits not only their English language development but also the literacy skills in their native language.

Authors

• Yiwen Sun, Teachers College, Columbia University
  Presenting Author

• Dandan Yang, Boston College
  Presenting Author

• Penelope Collins, University of California - Irvine
  Non-Presenting Author

• Mark Warschauer, University of California - Irvine
  Non-Presenting Author