Children’s multilingualism and linguistic agency in families and ECEC contexts.
This keynote presentation is divided into three main parts. Drawing on data from research in different countries it discusses examples on opportunities and challenges regarding children’s multilingualism and linguistic agency in ECEC contexts and families. Secondly, it addresses children’s linguistic identities and linguistic rights. It argues that children‘s linguistic agency and multilingual voices have in many cases been overlooked or silenced and how this can affect the development of children‘s linguistic identities. However, findings from research have shown that when provided with supportive and flexible learning spaces, children can become active agents in developing language practices both in ECEC contexts and in their families, contributing to these contexts with their input, ideas, choices, and language preferences. Finally, drawing on data on good practices from families and ECEC contexts, it discusses how ECEC contexts can provide better opportunities and learning spaces for multilingual children in partnerships with their families.
Hanna Ragnarsdóttir is a professor at the School of Education, University of Iceland. She completed a BA in anthropology and history from the University of Iceland in 1984, an MSc in anthropology from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1986, and a Dr.philos in education from the University of Oslo in 2007. Her research has mainly focused on immigrants and refugees (children, adults, and families) in Icelandic society and schools, heritage language research, bi- and plurilingualism, multicultural education, multilingual education, and school reform. She has published numerous articles in peer reviewed academic journals and altogether published eight books.
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8878-7498
Website: https://english.hi.is/staff/hannar