What Characteristics of a Preschool Environment Encourage Childrens Use of Language?
Three characteristics emerged from the preschool environment as having an influence on the childrens language use. These characteristics are play centre activities, authentic experiences, and direct instruction. Booth (1994) states that a rich and varied program with ample opportunity for exploratory talk allows children to encounter new ideas, have greater experimentation with language and become confident and effective language users. The children were able to use their language to establish relationships, tell stories, ask questions, and give information. The preschool provided opportunities for the children to become familiar with classroom discourse, such as turn-taking and teacher-child exchanges. Play Centre Activities The preschool environment involved the children in active learning experiences that encouraged the children to talk. The classroom had areas for the children to converse one-to-one with their teacher, their parents, or teacher assistant. There were places for pair
