Reasons for Migration, Acculturation, Home Literacy, and Dual Language Learners' Vocabulary in Preschool

• In Event: Multilingual Literacies: Predictors and Practices

Abstract

Immigrant parents transmit values from their culture of origin and their language to their children. Immigrant parents may also undergo a process of cultural and psychological change known as acculturation. However, little is known about the associations between parental acculturation and children’s language development in both English and their heritage language. The present study explores these relationships among Mexican American and Chinese American parents and their preschoolers enrolled in Head Start programs in Northern California. The results suggest that families immigrate to the U.S. for different reasons and that these reasons are associated with a variety of acculturation practices. Additionally, different home literacy practices and acculturation factors are related to dual language learning preschoolers’ expressive vocabulary.

Authors

• Maria Belen Buttiler, University of California - Davis
  Presenting Author

• Emily Mak, University of California - Davis
  Presenting Author

• Mayu Lindblad, University of California - Davis
  Presenting Author

• Qing Zhou, University of California - Berkeley
  Non-Presenting Author

• Yuuko Uchikoshi, University of California - Davis
  Non-Presenting Author