The IDEAL project focuses on individual differences among pupils in early foreign language teaching by following their English language learning from Grade 1 through Grade 3. The aim of the project is to explore how pupils’ language proficiency and affective factors (such as language self-concept, self-efficacy, and language attitudes) develop, and which factors are associated with this development.
The IDEAL project also examines the differentiation strategies used by teachers in early English language teaching, as well as teachers’ attitudes towards language teaching. In addition, the study investigates how parents perceive their children’s early English language learning and how they support language learning at home. Data are collected longitudinally in Grades 1, 2, and 3.
The data for the study consists of visualisations drawn by the students, language tests as well as interviews with the students, their parents and their teachers. The project is carried out at the Department of Education at the University of Jyväskylä. The research project will increase our knowledge of individual language learning processes and help to develop teaching methods, materials and assessment in language teaching. The results will also help to develop language didactics in teacher education.
