Oral vocabulary as a predictor of English language proficiency among Malaysian Chinese preschool children

The vocabulary of children is an important indication of their language ability during the preschool years. This study examined whether oral vocabulary is a good predictor of the English language proficiency of Malaysian Chinese preschoolers by examining the correlation of oral vocabulary and Englis...

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Main Authors: Hooi, San Phoon, Anna Christina Abdullah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pusat Pengajian Bahasa dan Linguistik, FSSK, UKM 2014
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/7072/1/3614-14268-1-PB.pdf
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author Hooi, San Phoon
Anna Christina Abdullah,
author_facet Hooi, San Phoon
Anna Christina Abdullah,
author_sort Hooi, San Phoon
collection UKM
description The vocabulary of children is an important indication of their language ability during the preschool years. This study examined whether oral vocabulary is a good predictor of the English language proficiency of Malaysian Chinese preschoolers by examining the correlation of oral vocabulary and English language proficiency. A total of 204 Chinese preschoolers aged between 3 to 6 years participated in this study. A parental report was used to gauge the English language proficiency level of the children; while a set of stimulus pictures containing 160 basic and easy vocabularies were used to determine the oral vocabulary abilities of the children. The results showed that preschoolers’ oral production of English vocabulary had a significant and positive correlation with their English language proficiency. Older children showed more correct production of English vocabulary compared to younger children. There were no gender effects in their oral productions. The findings of the present study could serve as a way to gather information on preschoolers’ level of English language proficiency, to inform instructional practice and to rule out second language learning problems or language delay.
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spelling ukm.eprints-70722016-12-14T06:43:01Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/7072/ Oral vocabulary as a predictor of English language proficiency among Malaysian Chinese preschool children Hooi, San Phoon Anna Christina Abdullah, The vocabulary of children is an important indication of their language ability during the preschool years. This study examined whether oral vocabulary is a good predictor of the English language proficiency of Malaysian Chinese preschoolers by examining the correlation of oral vocabulary and English language proficiency. A total of 204 Chinese preschoolers aged between 3 to 6 years participated in this study. A parental report was used to gauge the English language proficiency level of the children; while a set of stimulus pictures containing 160 basic and easy vocabularies were used to determine the oral vocabulary abilities of the children. The results showed that preschoolers’ oral production of English vocabulary had a significant and positive correlation with their English language proficiency. Older children showed more correct production of English vocabulary compared to younger children. There were no gender effects in their oral productions. The findings of the present study could serve as a way to gather information on preschoolers’ level of English language proficiency, to inform instructional practice and to rule out second language learning problems or language delay. Pusat Pengajian Bahasa dan Linguistik, FSSK, UKM 2014 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/7072/1/3614-14268-1-PB.pdf Hooi, San Phoon and Anna Christina Abdullah, (2014) Oral vocabulary as a predictor of English language proficiency among Malaysian Chinese preschool children. 3L; Language,Linguistics and Literature,The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies., 20 (1). pp. 143-156. ISSN 0128-5157 http://ejournals.ukm.my/3l/index
spellingShingle Hooi, San Phoon
Anna Christina Abdullah,
Oral vocabulary as a predictor of English language proficiency among Malaysian Chinese preschool children
title Oral vocabulary as a predictor of English language proficiency among Malaysian Chinese preschool children
title_full Oral vocabulary as a predictor of English language proficiency among Malaysian Chinese preschool children
title_fullStr Oral vocabulary as a predictor of English language proficiency among Malaysian Chinese preschool children
title_full_unstemmed Oral vocabulary as a predictor of English language proficiency among Malaysian Chinese preschool children
title_short Oral vocabulary as a predictor of English language proficiency among Malaysian Chinese preschool children
title_sort oral vocabulary as a predictor of english language proficiency among malaysian chinese preschool children
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/7072/1/3614-14268-1-PB.pdf
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