Janelle’s Story

It is not unusual for an experienced teacher to have seen these types of behaviors displayed by children. In the back of a teacher’s mind, she may have labeled Janelle’s behavior as challenging. However, Janelle’s situation might continue to baffle a teacher because Janelle comes from a home where a language other than English is the primary language. Although Janelle may have spoken a few times in the early childhood program, her teacher might not be sure about the extent to which Janelle is fluent in English or even in her home language. Her family might report that since starting school, Janelle has spoken very little at home, even in their own language. What confuses her teacher about Janelle’s behaviors is that Ms. Corinne is not really sure whether or not Janelle has behavior problems. Are Janelle’s refusals to interact and communicate with others, frequent tantrums, difficulty in attending, and excessive shyness signs of behavior problems, or are these typical behaviors for young children learning English as a second language? Is Janelle behaving this way because her home language is different from the language used in the classroom?

Why Is Understanding the Impact of Language So Confusing?

For many children from homes where languages other than English are spoken, learning another language (in the United States, the English language) can be a challenge. The time it takes to learn English may vary from child to child depending on the child’s age, motivation, personality, knowledge of the first language, and exposure to English. However, the developmental period for learning English is fairly consistent across young children. This developmental period includes four stages:
(1) The continued use of the home language,
(2) The silent or nonverbal period,
(3) Sound experimentation and use of telegraphic speech (e.g., the use of a few content words as an entire utterance such as when a child responds to “What do you want?” with comments such as “crackers,” “book,” or “airplane”) in the new language, and
(4) Productive use of the new language.

At issue is the fact that some of the behaviors that children might engage in during these developmental periods, such as playing in isolation and not speaking in either language, may be misinterpreted or mislabeled as a problem when in fact children are simply beginning to acquire the new language. Second-language learners might exhibit social interaction patterns along with limited communication abilities that are similar to those exhibited by children identified with specific language impairments or with speech impairments. Thus, it is not uncommon for many of these children to be labeled as having challenging behaviors or communication disorders when in fact they are following a fairly typical developmental path in acquiring a second language.

For many children from homes where languages other than English are spoken, learning another language (in the United States, the English language) can be a challenge.

How Can I Tell If It’s Really a Behavior Problem?

Assessment is the key to pinpointing a child’s strengths and needs, and then designing instructional programs that facilitate the child’s development. When assessing a second-languagelearning child, teachers and other caregivers should look at
(1) the child’s abilities in terms of cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development;
(2) the child’s abilities in his or her first language; and
(3) the child’s capabilities in his or her second language.

Because cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development are involved in and affected by the process of second-language acquisition, it is important to assess these areas. Knowing the child’s abilities in his or her first language is critical in gaining a complete picture of the child’s abilities, as is gathering information about how a child is progressing in the development of second-language acquisition. Similar to assessing children who are monolingual, conducting authentic performance-based assessment helps teachers and other caregivers see how a child uses language during day-to-day interactions.

What Behaviors Can I Expect from Young English-Language Learners?

Some behaviors common among children beginning to acquire another language that may be misinterpreted as challenging behaviors include not talking, difficulty following directions, difficulty expressing ideas and feelings, and difficulty responding to questions consistently. For example, as children begin to acquire another language, they may go through a nonverbal period during which they begin to gather information about how to communicate with their peers and adults in the second language. During this period, children often choose not to speak, and they may isolate themselves as they take on the role of a spectator or observer. In “safe” environments (such as solitary play), some children may rehearse new words they have heard. For example, although Ms. Corinne might interpret Janelle’s tendency to keep to herself as problematic, Janelle might be watching classmates and adults and attempting to figure out how to communicate.

Additionally, some children use cognitive and social strategies to acquire a new language. One strategy used by children acquiring a new language is “pretending” to understand interactions or activities, such as large group play, when in fact they do not clearly grasp what is going on. In such situations, children may have difficulty or may be inconsistent in responding to directions given by their peers or adults.

What Can I Do?

Teachers and other caregivers should understand the process by which children learn language, whether it is their home language or a new language. It is also important that early childhood educators and other professionals gather information from a variety of sources to ensure that they have a complete picture of a child’s skill development. Teachers and other caregivers can learn from families not only about their children but also about the families’ cultural, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds. With this understanding, caregivers will not only be able to distinguish between a challenging behavior and behaviors associated with second-language acquisition, but they also will be able to effectively support children’s overall development.

Teachers and caregivers will want to individualize instruction, because even two children from the same culture might show different patterns in learning English as a second language based on factors such as experience and personality.

It is critical that early childhood settings provide a supportive and safe environment in which children can use their home language and learn a new language. Teachers can develop a systematic plan to promote meaningful participation and inclusion of second-language learners in routines and activities in the classroom. To help young second-language learners, teachers and other caregivers can build upon what the children know and engage them in situations that at the beginning may not require them to give specific responses (e.g., low-demand situations). For example, Ms. Corinne might begin trying to get Janelle more involved in large group activities by having Janelle help carry materials such as books, name cards, and musical instruments to circle time. Language strategies such as pairing new words with gestures, pictures, and cues; commenting on things a child does; expanding and extending upon children’s words; and repeating what children say have been found to be effective in young children’s successful acquisition of a new language.

Some behaviors common among children beginning to acquire another language that may be misinterpreted as challenging behaviors include not talking, difficulty following directions, difficulty expressing ideas and feelings, and difficulty responding to questions consistently.

Thus, collaborating with families and other professionals, creating a supportive early childhood environment, and using evidence-based language strategies are key ingredients to helping teachers and other caregivers work effectively with second-language learners. Not only will using these strategies help in distinguishing between a challenging behavior and behaviors associated with second-language acquisition, but they will enable adults to effectively support children’s overall development.

Who Are the Children Who Have Participated in Research on This Topic?

Studies that describe the stages that young children go through as they acquire a second language have been conducted with a wide variety of ethnically and linguistically diverse children. These studies include children with disabilities and those who are typically developing. Children with disabilities include those diagnosed with developmental delays, communication disorders, and learning disabilities. Most of the studies have been conducted in center-based programs such as Head Start, university laboratory schools, and inclusive preschool classrooms.