Language unlocks a powerful route to learning. TalkTogether is using research to build knowledge, resources, and networks to support pre-primary children’s oral language in India and the Philippines.
Strong language skills early in life set the foundation for strong reading and writing skills in school. Unfortunately, many children do not grow up in language-rich environments and are at risk for school failure. Targeted intervention is needed to minimize the learning gap. This need is felt especially in countries such as India and the Philippines. To find the best way to support children in these settings, we need to find the right set of tools, resources, and local expertise.
TalkTogether is an Oxford-led collaboration with the University of the Philippines Diliman, The Promise Foundation Bangalore, and an international network of academic and non-academic partners. The team is laying the groundwork for an effective oral language intervention using multiple methods. First, the team is investigating how children growing up in resource-poor multilingual settings develop their language skills. What are the barriers to and opportunities for learning in their immediate environment? Second, the team is developing a robust set of assessments for children’s language and literacy skills in the local languages; namely, Kannada and Filipino. Third, the team is working with communities and drawing upon local oral traditions to design a language intervention for children in early childhood education settings. This intervention will be tested for its efficacy in a randomised control trial.
Data from the research programme will inform the development of resources including teacher training modules and toolkits, community and parent seminars, open-access research materials, sample interventions, and tools for policymakers. Ultimately, the outputs of this project will contribute to the conversation around the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4.2 to ensure quality early childhood education for all children.
Contact: katrina.dulay@education.ox.ac.uk