Language Trampoline: How can children from non-Finnish-speaking immigrant families be raised with the new language by supporting their parents and kindergarten teachers in Finland?

Application summary

The project is a comprehensive study that aims to research and evaluate the long-term holistic-language-learning support for non-Finnish-speaking children from immigrant families living in Finland in their natural living environments – at home and in ECEC place. The action-based research employs meetings with parents and workshops for ECEC teachers. The meetings with parents are designed to find ways to support a child who does not speak Finnish and adapt to their family reality while considering and supporting the multilingual context. The cycle for teachers' workshops aims to develop a set of second language teaching methods based on Vygotsky's pedagogy (verbal- and nonverbal language), elements of Maria Montessori's (child’s free development) and Janusz Korczak's pedagogy (children's emotions). It includes a series of art-based workshops led by specialists and experienced practitioners from various fields, such as music, kamishibai theatre, and dance therapy. Classes for teaching staff focus on developing language skills defined in the ,,National Core Curriculum for Early Childhood Education and Care" using the holistic, innovative approach. Other training elements include using authentic materials and language games to learn Finnish as a second language. The aspect that connects the training for parents and ECEC teachers is understanding a child's emotions with difficulties in everyday communication in the ECEC place environment. Breaking the Finnish language barrier will support the future of the Finnish multicultural and multilingual society, which is changing because of growing immigration (climate crises, conflicts, war in Ukraine and labour immigration).