Carmen Muñoz|Teresa Cadierno|Isabel Casas
Different Starting Points for English Language Learning: A Comparative Study of Danish and Spanish Young Learners
Universitat de Barcelona|University of Southern Denmark|University of Southern Denmark|Basque Center for Applied Mathematics
abstract study compared receptive english grammar skills two groups 7 9yearold danish children beginning second language l2 instruction english two groups spanishcatalan children age several years instruction study examined influence two languagerelated factors receptive vocabulary skills cognate linguistic distance two contextrelated factors amount formal instruction frequency exposure english outside school additionally focusing gender variable results revealed amount formal instruction lesser role childrens receptive grammar knowledge cognate linguistic distance outofschool contact english particularly audiovisual material factors may explain danish childrens receptive knowledge english prior school instruction largely similar spanish children several years instruction revealing sharp contrast respective starting points l2 learning