Rano učenje engleskog jezika iz perspektive roditelja djece vrtićke i mlađe školske dobi

Mirna Erk  - Prethodno priopćenje
Tijana Borovac
Sandra Brezetić

Early English Language Learning from the Perspective of Parents of Very Young and Young Learners

Sažetak
Čini se da roditelji (što) raniji početak učenja stranog jezika smatraju jamstvom njegova uspješnog ovladavanja. Stoga prikazujemo istraživanje u kojem smo anketiranjem roditelja (N=131) doznali njihov stav prema ranom učenju engleskog jezika u hrvatskoj sredini. U istraživački nacrt uvrstili smo sociodemografske čimbenike na čiju su važnost ukazala prethodna istraživanja, a posebno smo istražili stav roditelja čija su djeca učila engleski jezik neformalno, u vrtićkoj dobi, i roditelja čija su djeca s učenjem započela formalno, u školi. Doznali smo da su roditeljska vjerovanja o ranom učenju engleskog jezika izrazito pozitivna i ujednačena. Pronašli smo povezanost između procjene boljeg obiteljskog statusa i ranijeg početka djetetova učenja engleskog jezika, no nema razlika u stavu između roditelja čija su djeca počela učiti engleski jezik formalno i neformalno. Zaključujemo da su roditeljska vjerovanja o dobrobitima ranog učenja engleskog jezika oblikovana pod utjecajem društvenih i ekonomskih trendova te utječu na obrazovne jezične politike na globalnoj i lokalnoj razini.

Abstract
Parents around the world seem to share an attitude that an earlier start of foreign language learning guarantees successful acquisition. A study with parents (N=131) of very young and young learners about their attitude towards early EFL in the Croatian/local environment has been presented. The research design included background variables that have been recognized in the available research as important attitudinal factors. Two questionnaires served as instruments of data collection. Differences between attitudes of parents of very young and young learners were examined. Overall, the results revealed a positive attitude towards early learning of English which is not influenced by parental age, level of education, perceived family status, or the perception of a child’s formal EFL learning experience. Only mothers’ active use of English at work contributed to a more positive attitude to early EFL. Although an association was found between perceived family status and an earlier start, no differences in the attitude to early EFL were found between parents who enrolled their child into non-formal pre-primary learning and the parents whose children started learning English formally at school entry. Questions of (in)equality of educational opportunities are raised and a need is stressed for more research on family-related influences on policy and outcomes of early English learning.