SOME COGNITIVE CONSEQUENCES OF FOLLOWING A FIRST-GRADE CURRICULUM IN A SECOND LANGUAGE

Presents the results of a community-sponsored project to develop skill in a 2nd language (French), by using it as the sole medium for instruction with 1st-graders whose native language is English. The experimental class is compared with both English and French control classes and their relative standing in audio-lingual and reading skills in both languages, mathematics, sensitivity to novel phonemic sequences, and measured intelligence at the end of the year is examined. Although the results reveal a striking progress in French and considerable transfer to English skills, the real value of the study will be evident only after a replication with other 1st-grade classes and a follow-up with the same students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.