Teaching project to help children choose classroom language

Researchers are aiming to allow NZ children to learn in languages spoken by their families

Policies that enforce “English-only” in school classrooms can affect family relations, cause anxiety and undermine a student’s confidence in their ability to learn, a New Zealand linguistics academic has said.

Corinne Seals, from Victoria University of Wellington’s school of linguistics and applied language studies, is leading a research team that is developing classroom resources to allow NZ children to learn in languages spoken by their families.