Social Behaviours of Children in a Multicultural Preschool

Abstract

This paper describes social behaviours of preschool children in relation to second language development, observed in a multicultural preschool program in Vancouver, B.C. Social behaviours arising from planned curriculum activities and teacher strategies which fostered the use of English were monitored in several play areas of the classroom. Examples are given of behaviours observed early in the year, as well as early stages of cooperative and sociodramatic play. Cultural adjustment of children is discussed as the program takes them from the familiar single-culture home situation to the multicultural classroom where customs and festivals of several cultures are included in the curriculum. Finally, observed individual differences in learning English are discussed and further research currently being carried out on the project is presented.