Language Choice of Bilingual Arab Children In UK Supplementary Schools: Description and Factors HIND ALRADDADI

Research aim This sociolinguistic study aims at investigating and revealing a clear picture of language choice amongst Arabic-English bilingual children in the UK and finding patterns that lead to maintenance of heritage language and/ or language shift.

Importance of maintaining heritage languages:  Value culture.  Hold positive self-concepts and form minority identity. Host communities. Religious importance. Economic, cognitive and social importance.

Possible effects of losing heritage languages: Language gap between parents and children or grandparents and grandchildren. Negative influence on the parent-child relationship in the family.  A large amount of the fundamental elements that a family provides children with is lost.

What are supplementary schools?

Why am I interested in this research?

Contribution THEORETICAL: This study focuses on different Arabic varieties and attitudes towards these different varieties. Practical: Supplementary schools Arab Individuals

Mixed methods approach Methodology Mixed methods approach This study uses an ethnographically informed mixed methods approach. It includes: qualitative (interviews and observation) and quantitative (questionnaires) research methods

Methods Mixed research methods (Quantitative and qualitative): Pilot study Questionnaires (29 children, 11parents and 21 teachers ) from two Arabic schools Actual study Questionnaires (200 children, 200 parents and 50 teachers) Interviews (6 children, 6 parents and 6 teachers) Observation (5 hours) Field notes

Participants participants who are : Arabs Living in the UK Students in Arabic supplementary schools Ranging in age from 8 to 16 Their parents And teachers in Arabic supplementary schools

Data analysis Questionnaires: Statistical analysis using SPSS Interviews: Thematic analysis Observation: 1)compare language use patterns reported in the questionnaires with real language use patterns. 2)Compare classes that include only Arabic speakers and these that include both Arabic speakers and non-Arabic speakers.

Pilot Study Results From children’s questionnaire Arabic is maintained There is a shift towards English-dominant bilingualism amongst the younger generation Children’s language use with older generation differs from children’s language use with younger generation

Language use patterns with adult Arabs Language use patterns with other Arab children

Results From children’s questionnaire Communicating with grandparents and Arab teachers plays an important role in maintaining Arabic Watching Arabic programmes and length of attending Arabic supplementary schools are related to children’s understanding of standard Arabic and preferring it to regional dialects Arabic Children who were born in the UK tend to report English as their first language although both parents are Arabs and speak Arabic as their first language