Multicultural Article Abstract
Children adopted from China represent the largest group of internationally adopted children in the United States; however, the research on the development of the English language in these children is insufficient.
Summary of the review of the literature
When the majority of Chinese children are adopted, they have been exposed to their native language for at least a year up until their adoption when the native language exposure stops and the exposure to English begins. De Geer (1992) believes this experience should be categorized as the development of an additional “first language” as opposed to the development of a second language (as cited in Roberts et al., 2005, p 94). In addition, Werker and Polka (1993) …show more content…
At the time of the study, the children ranged in age from 3 to 6 years and were adopted from China at ages ranging from 6 to 25 months. The children were assessed voluntarily in Memphis or Philadelphia.
Materials, equipment
The child’s medical history, hearing status, current age, age at time of adoption, and parental information was addressed through personal interview and a questionnaire developed specifically for this evaluation. Before the language battery was administered, a Behavioral Audiometric Screening was administered to evaluate hearing. The Language Battery utilized consisted of the PPVT-3, Expressive One- Word Picture Vocabulary Test-R, Goldman Fristoe Test of Articulation-2, and Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Preschool.
The test battery was administered and the scores, standard deviations, and ranges were compared to the characteristics of the children, such as age at the time of testing, age when adopted, time in the United States, weight, length and head circumference z scores.
Results
Overall, the group scored higher than the average norms for all the tests administered. Age at time of adoption and time (in months) spent in the new home were labeled as predictors of language
Children adopted from China represent the largest group of internationally adopted children in the United States; however, the research on the development of the English language in these children is insufficient.
Summary of the review of the literature
When the majority of Chinese children are adopted, they have been exposed to their native language for at least a year up until their adoption when the native language exposure stops and the exposure to English begins. De Geer (1992) believes this experience should be categorized as the development of an additional “first language” as opposed to the development of a second language (as cited in Roberts et al., 2005, p 94). In addition, Werker and Polka (1993) …show more content…
At the time of the study, the children ranged in age from 3 to 6 years and were adopted from China at ages ranging from 6 to 25 months. The children were assessed voluntarily in Memphis or Philadelphia.
Materials, equipment
The child’s medical history, hearing status, current age, age at time of adoption, and parental information was addressed through personal interview and a questionnaire developed specifically for this evaluation. Before the language battery was administered, a Behavioral Audiometric Screening was administered to evaluate hearing. The Language Battery utilized consisted of the PPVT-3, Expressive One- Word Picture Vocabulary Test-R, Goldman Fristoe Test of Articulation-2, and Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Preschool.
The test battery was administered and the scores, standard deviations, and ranges were compared to the characteristics of the children, such as age at the time of testing, age when adopted, time in the United States, weight, length and head circumference z scores.
Results
Overall, the group scored higher than the average norms for all the tests administered. Age at time of adoption and time (in months) spent in the new home were labeled as predictors of language