EVAS –Evaluation of preschool language
programmes with children from immigrant background
Karin Schakib-Ekbatan (schakib@ph-heidelberg.de)
Department for Education
Fundamental language skills are crucial for learning in all areas and in
the long run essential for a successful participation in society. Pre- and
elementary school children from immigrant background and with limited
proficiency in German are at special risk of literacy difficulties. Experiences
of the past decades have shown that an effective intervention has to start
prior to school. However, the few existing pre-school language programmes have,
so far, not been evaluated regarding their effectiveness. On behalf of the Landesstiftung Baden-Württemberg and as part of the EVAS
longitudinal study (2005-2008) a total of 640 children with and without
immigrant background will participate in various specific and unspecific
language programmes. Data on school achievement, assessed during the first two
years of elementary school, will be used for evaluation. The question at hand
will be how and by means of which programme chances of successful schooling and
literacy acquisition of children from immigrant background can be increased on
a long-term perspective. Language related skills and cognitive abilities will
be assessed using a pre- and post-test design. Supplementary data will be
assessed by parents’ and teachers’ questionnaires. Design and first results of
the pre- and post tests prior to school will be presented and discussed.
Key words: migration, preschool children, education, language programme,
longitudinal study