A new phonological test, LINUS, for Swedish-speaking children between the ages of three and seven, has been developed at the speech and language pathology department at Linköping University. The aim of the present study was to create a reference manual for the long version of the new test. The participants in the present study were children between the ages of five to seven in a medium-sized municipality in the Northern part of Kalmar County, Sweden. In total, 124 native Swedish-speaking children (58 girls and 66 boys) with typical language development participated. The children were divided into two age groups, 5;0-5;11;31 and 6;0-6;11;31 years. The collected data was analysed with respect to acquisition of phonemes and word structure processes. Percentage of correctly produced words (PWC), consonants (PCC) and vowels (PVC) were calculated.All phonemes, except /s/, were established in both age groups. The phoneme /s/ was found to be either substituted or distorted. Among the 5-year old children /s/ was established for 84%, substitutions of /s/ were found in 7% and distortions were found in 23%. Among the 6-year old children /s/ was established for 88%. Substitutions of /s/ were found in 3% and distortions in 16% of the 6-year old children. The phoneme /r/ proved to be a borderline case for acquisition in the younger age group (91%). The most common word structure process in both groups was assimilation. A significant difference between the two age groups was found for assimilation (p=0,022), with lower occurrence in the older group. Two-consonant clusters (CC) and three-consonant clusters (CCC) were not frequently reduced, although it was found that CC-clusters were reduced more frequently than CCC-clusters. Both the age groups had high percentages of correctly produced words, consonants and vowels. The analysis revealed the following results: PWC for 5-years olds was 93% and 6-years olds 97%. PCC for 5-year olds was 98% and for 6-year olds 99%. PVC for both age groups was 100%. An age difference was shown for PWC, but not for the other measures. No gender differences were found. / Ett nytt fonologiskt testmaterial, LINUS, är framtaget för svensktalande barn. I föreliggande studie har referensmaterial till den långa versionen av det nya testet insamlats bland barn 5-7 år i en mellanstor kommun i norra Kalmar län. Totalt deltog 124 barn (58 flickor och 66 pojkar) med svenska som modersmål och typisk språkutveckling. Barnen delades upp i två åldersintervall, 5;0-5;11;31 och 6;0-6;11;31 år. Det insamlade materialet analyserades avseende etablering av fonem och konsonantkombinationer, samt förekomst av ordstrukturprocesser. Andelsmått för korrekt uttalade ord (PWC), konsonanter (PCC) och vokaler (PVC) beräknades.Samtliga fonem, utom /s/, var etablerade i båda åldersgrupperna. Fonemet /s/ realiserades med substitutioner eller kvalitativt marginella avvikelser (KMA). I 5-årsgruppen var /s/ etablerat för 84% av deltagarna. Bland 5-åringarna förekom substitutioner av /s/ hos 7% och KMA förekom hos 23%. I 6-årsgruppen var /s/ etablerat till 88%, och det förekom substitutioner hos 3% av 6-åringarna, och KMA förekom hos 16%. Fonemet /r/ visade sig vara ett gränsfall avseende etablering för den yngre åldersgruppen (91%). Den vanligaste ordstrukturprocessen för båda grupperna var assimilationer. Signifikanta skillnader mellan de två åldersgrupperna återfanns avseende assimilationer, p=0,022. Förekomsten av assimilationer minskade med stigande ålder. Tvåkonsonantskombinationer (CC) och trekonsonantskombinationer (CCC) visade sig ej vara påverkade av förenklingar i någon större grad. Dock visade sig CC-kombinationer vara mer utsatta för förenklingar än CCC-kombinationer. Båda åldersgrupperna hade höga andelar korrekt uttalade ord, konsonanter och vokaler. De två grupperna fick följande resultat: PWC för 5-åringar var 93% och 6-åringar 97%. PCC var 98% respektive 99% för grupperna. PVC var 100% för båda åldersgrupperna. Åldersskillnader kunde ses för PWC, dock inte för de andra måtten. Inga könsskillnader noterades.

Children with phonological disorder are at risk of developing reading and writing impairments. Phonological difficulties may also influence a child’s social interaction and it is for this reason that effective treatment of phonological disorder is important. One factor that may influence treatment efficacy, is treatment intensity. There has been little research done in Sweden, on the effects of intensity of phonological intervention. Further research into phonological intervention is therefore needed to determine which treatment intensity is the most effective. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible effects of intensive treatment of two preschool children with phonological disorder. The research questions focus on the nature of the possible effects of phonological treatment and if they lead to generalization, and whether caregivers notice any changes in their children’s speech. A single-subject design was used with three baseline measurements, followed by treatment and two follow up measurements. The treatment was given three times a week over the course of three weeks, and every treatment session lasted for approximately 40 minutes. The results of the baseline and follow ups were calculated with Percentage Consonants Correct (PCC), Percentage Words Correct (PWC), and the percentage of manner of articulation correct. Both participants displayed improvements between the baseline and the second follow up, in all the measurements. Changes could be seen in the target phonemes both in new positions and in new words, but also in untrained phonemes. The caregivers of both participants experienced an improvement in their children's speech. How the estimated intensity affected the results is unclear. However, the results indicated that intensive treatment led to generalization and that it showed effect. Thus, the results of the present study could have clinical relevance. / Förskolebarn med fonologiska svårigheter riskerar att få läs- och skrivsvårigheter i skolåldern och påverkan på det sociala samspelet. Det är därför viktigt med effektiv fonologisk intervention, som kan påverkas av intensiteten. Det finns sparsamt med svenska studier om intensitetens påverkan vid fonologisk intervention. Föreliggande studie syftar till att utvärdera eventuell effekt av intensiv behandling hos två förskolebarn med fonologiska svårigheter. Frågeställningarna innefattar hur den eventuella effekten av fonologisk behandling ser ut, om den leder till generalisering, samt om vårdnadshavarna upplever någon förändring.  Studien hade en single-subject design med tre baslinjemätningar och två uppföljande mätningar. Fonemtestet LINköpingsUnderSökningen (LINUS) användes vid samtliga mätningar. Behandlingen genomfördes vid nio tillfällen, tre gånger i veckan i tre veckor. Varje behandlingstillfälle var cirka 40 minuter långt. Resultatet av LINUS-testningen beräknades med Percentage Consonants Correct (PCC), Percentage Words Correct (PWC) och andel korrekt artikulationssätt och analyserades även kvalitativt. Resultaten jämfördes mellan de olika mätningarna. Båda deltagarna uppvisade förbättringar för samtliga mått mellan baslinjemätningarna och den sista uppföljande mätningen. Förändringar kunde ses av tränade ljud till nya ord och positioner samt av ljud som inte tränades i behandling. Vårdnadshavarna till de deltagande barnen upplevde att deras barns tal hade förbättrats efter behandlingen. Det är svårt att uttala sig om vilken inverkan den uppskattade intensiteten hade på behandlingsutgången. Resultatet indikerar dock att intensiv behandling hade effekt och att den ledde till generalisering, och skulle således kunna vara till nytta i klinisk verksamhet.

The thema of the diploma work is the language analysis of baroque religious text of V. V. J. Klugar - Catechism (1746). The diplome oves the characteristic of the phonological side of its language. First we informe generally about the baroque, about the life and work Klugar. Then we compare the Czech language in the epoch of humanism and baroque and we describe the important grammar and too the ungrammatical phonological terms. Next we analyze the separate texts (dialogical and monological) where we study language in phonetics. We works with copy of the origin deposit in the archiv in the museum in the Jaroměř, sg. Ač 6. The aim of the analysis is to state the level of Czech language in the 18 century and the level of the religious texts on the base of discoveries and graphic data.

Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2018-01-26T17:43:38Z No. of bitstreams: 0 / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2018-01-29T10:59:19Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-29T10:59:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-03-29 / O estudo investigou a influência de variáveis cognitivas e do Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH) na leitura de crianças do 2° ao 7° anos do Ensino Fundamental. Participaram 70 crianças, divididas em dois grupos: TDAH e controle. Foram aplicadas tarefas de habilidade fonológica (consciência fonológica e memória de trabalho fonológica), nomeação seriada rápida, vocabulário, QI, atenção, flexibilidade cognitiva e leitura (precisão, fluência e compreensão). Análises de regressão linear múltipla indicaram que, ao controlar idade e QI, a nomeação seriada rápida e a consciência fonológica contribuíram fortemente para precisão, fluência e compreensão de leitura; o TDAH influenciou somente na compreensão. O TDAH parece influenciar negativamente na compreensão de leitura, visto que os componentes da função executiva, monitoramento, planejamento e inibição de resposta, provavelmente, interferem na compreensão. / The study investigated the influence of cognitive variables and the influence of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) on reading. Seventy children from second to 7th grade took part in this study. These children were divided into two groups: ADHD and control. Tasks of phonological ability (phonological awareness and phonological work memory), rapid automatized naming, vocabulary, IQ, attention, cognitive flexibility and reading (accuracy, fluency and comprehension) were applied. Multiple linear regression analyzes indicated that, when controlling for age, IQ and ADHD, rapid automatized naming and phonological awareness strongly contributed to reading accuracy, reading fluency and reading comprehension. ADHD was negatively related to reading comprehension, probably because components of executive function as monitoring, planning, and response inhibition are likely to be important for comprehension.

Submitted by Simone Maisonave (simonemaisonave@hotmail.com) on 2016-09-08T16:50:51Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Liza Gutierrez_Tese.pdf: 1216689 bytes, checksum: c6df0ac59719cbf67fdcd526bea8bac0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Simone Maisonave (simonemaisonave@hotmail.com) on 2016-09-08T16:51:02Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Liza Gutierrez_Tese.pdf: 1216689 bytes, checksum: c6df0ac59719cbf67fdcd526bea8bac0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2016-09-08T21:50:09Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Liza Gutierrez_Tese.pdf: 1216689 bytes, checksum: c6df0ac59719cbf67fdcd526bea8bac0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-08T21:50:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Liza Gutierrez_Tese.pdf: 1216689 bytes, checksum: c6df0ac59719cbf67fdcd526bea8bac0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-11-14 / Sem bolsa / Esta tese se insere no campo dos estudos de aquisição da escrita e desenvolveu-se a partir da implementação do programa de estimulação da consciência fonológica (PECF), conforme proposto por Adams, Foorman et al (2006). O objetivo da pesquisa foi implementar e avaliar os efeitos do programa de estimulação sobre a evolução dos níveis de escrita, o desempenho em consciência fonológica (CF) e as escritas produzidas pelas crianças um ano após o programa, especialmente no que diz respeito à produção de erros considerados como decorrentes de complexidades fonológicas concernentes à sílaba e ao segmento. A amostra estudada está composta por dezoito crianças, as quais cursavam o primeiro ano em duas escolas municipais da cidade de Pelotas – RS, divididas em dois grupos, um experimental, com nove alunos, outro controle, composto pelo mesmo número de alunos. A turma experimental recebeu ao longo de nove meses a estimulação em CF por meio da implementação do programa, realizada pela professora da turma. Os dois grupos foram avaliados no início de 2013, a fim de que se pudesse verificar o desempenho em CF (avaliação realizada por meio do CONFIAS de Moojen et al, 2003) e o nível de conceituação da escrita, avaliação realizada a partir do ditado de palavras e uma frase (Ferreiro e Teberosky ,1999). Ao final do ano, novamente foram realizadas avaliações para verificar o desempenho em CF e o nível de escrita em que se encontravam as crianças. Um ano após a implementação do programa, ao final de 2014, os alunos foram novamente avaliados, mas apenas no âmbito da escrita, para que se pudesse analisar a presença de erros motivados pela fonologia, categoria empregada nos estudos desenvolvidos pelo GEALE (Grupo de Estudos sobre Aquisição da Linguagem Escrita). Os resultados obtidos, ainda que com base em uma amostra reduzida, mostram diferenças significativas entre os grupos e apontam para os efeitos positivos da estimulação por meio do PECF, uma vez que 66,67% dos alunos do grupo experimental evoluíram nos níveis de conceituação de escrita, alcançando a base alfabética ao final do ano, enquanto apenas 11,12% do grupo controle chegou a este nível. No CONFIAS, os experimentais apresentaram diferença de escores estatisticamente significativos nas habilidades com sílabas e fonemas e tendência favorável para ambos os sexos em todas as tarefas de CF. A avaliação dos erros motivados pela fonologia mostrou que os experimentais tiveram proteção pela exposição que sofreram com PECF, em comparação aos controles, que escreveram menos e produziram mais erros relacionados à grafia das sílabas e dos segmentos complexos. Conclui-se ao final do trabalho que o programa contribui para o desenvolvimento da escrita e pode diminuir a incidência de erros motivados pela fonologia no grupo estudado. / This thesis is in the field of Writing Acquisition Studies and was developed starting from the implementation of the Phonological Awareness Stimulation Program (PASP), according to what was proposed by Adam, Foorman et al (2006). The main goal of this research was to implement and evaluate the effects of the stimulation program over the evolution of writing levels, the performance in phonological awareness (PA) and the texts produced by the children one year after the implementation of the program, particularly regarding the production of errors considered originated from the phonological complexities concerning the syllable and the segment. The studied sample is composed of 18 children, all of them in the first scholar year in two public schools in the city of Pelotas – RS. The children were divided into two groups, experimental and control, both composed of nine children each. The experimental group received, throughout nine months, the stimulation performed by the class teacher. We evaluated both groups in the beginning of 2013, in order to make it possible to evaluate their performance in PA (evaluation made with the test CONFIAS, by Moojen et al, 2003) and their level of writing concept (evaluation made from a word and sentence spelling from Ferreiro and Teberosky, 1999). By the end of the year, we had new evaluations made to verify the performance in PA and the writing level the children were in. One year after implementing the program, by the end of 2014, the students were once again evaluated, this time only regarding writing, so we could analyze the presence of errors motivated by phonology, category employed in the studies developed by GEALE (Group of Studies on Written Language Acquisition). The results obtained, although with a reduced base sample, show relevant differences between groups and point towards positive effects of stimulation by PASP, since 66.67% of students from the experimental group have evolved in their levels of writing concept, reaching the alphabetical basis by the end of the year, while in the control group this percentage drops to 11.12%. In CONFIAS, the students from the experimental group showed scores statistically significant in their ability with syllables and phonemes, and a positive tendency for both genders in all PA tasks. The evaluation of errors motivated by phonology showed that students from the experimental group were protected by the stimulation they suffered from PASP, when compared to the students from control group, which wrote less and produced more errors related to spelling of syllables and complex segments. We conclude, by the end of this work, that the program contributes to the development of writing skills and can reduce the incidence of phonological motivated errors.

Le contrôle moteur a traditionnellement été étudié séparément des autres processus cognitifs qui sous-tendent la parole, dans la lignée de théories de la cognition présentant le cerveau comme un ensemble de modules relativement indépendants (Fodor & Pylyshyn, 2007). Cependant les recherches autour de la cognition incarnée (Varela, Thompson, & Rosch, 1991) et située (Barsalou, 2008), ainsi que des systèmes dynamiques (Smith & Thelen, 2003), menées ces trois dernières décennies soulignent que la cognition ne peut pas être considérée séparément d’un corps et de son environnement. Ce cadre constitue une source d’inspiration pour cette thèse et une motivation pour étudier les processus sensorimoteurs de la parole en lien avec les autres processus cognitifs.La parole peut-être décomposée en séquence d’unités linguistiques structurées sous forme d’une hiérarchie. Nous soutenons que ces unités sont ancrées dans des représentations sensorimotrices, associant une structure linguistique avec des informations perceptives et motrices. Ces unités correspondent-elles à des mots ? Des syllabes ? Des phonèmes ? Pour sonder les représentations assurant l’articulation de la parole, nous proposons d’utiliser un paradigme d’apprentissage auditorimoteur basé sur la perturbation du retour auditif (Caudrelier & Rochet-Capellan, accepté). Ce paradigme permet de modifier chez un locuteur des représentations sensorimotrices spécifiques, les représentations qui sous-tendent la production d’un item d’entrainement, par exemple un mot. Nous faisons ainsi l’hypothèse que si cette modification affecte la prononciation d’un autre mot, cela veut dire que la production de ce mot s’appuie sur une partie de ces représentations. Ainsi, l’observation du transfert d’apprentissage permet de révéler la structure de représentations qui assurent la production de parole.Une première étude chez l’adulte montre que le transfert d’apprentissage auditorimoteur a lieu à la fois aux niveaux du phonème, de la syllabe et du mot (Caudrelier, Schwartz, Perrier, Gerber, & Rochet-Capellan, 2018). Ces observations suggèrent que ces unités co-contribuent à l’articulation de la parole chez l’adulte. Les résultats sont mis en perspective par rapport aux théories et modèles de production de parole. Une 2ème expérience suggère que la modalité de présentation du stimulus (un mot à lire ou une image à dénommer) peut influencer le transfert d’apprentissage auditorimoteur (Caudrelier, Perrier, Schwartz, & Rochet-Capellan, 2018). Une 3ème étude chez des enfants de 4-5 ans et de 7-8 ans montre que les représentations du phonème émergent avant l’acquisition de la lecture (Caudrelier et al., en révision). De plus, un lien entre adaptation à la perturbation auditive et conscience phonologique est mis en évidence dans les deux groupes d’âge. Le potentiel caractère prédictif ou causal de ce lien est discuté.En conclusion, cette thèse exploite un outil original et productif pour explorer les représentations de la parole et étudier leur développement. Ce travail pourrait avoir des implications cliniques, pour la rééducation de la parole, et pour la dyslexie développementale. Il met en évidence des liens entre les niveaux sensorimoteurs, linguistiques et contextuels qui questionnent la nature des représentations qui sous-tendent la parole. / Speech motor control has traditionally been studied apart from other cognitive processes underlying speech production, since first cognitive theories presented the brain as a set of relatively independent modules (Fodor & Pylyshyn, 2007), taken apart from the body. However developments in embodied cognition (Varela, Thompson, & Rosch, 1991), grounded cognition (Barsalou, 2008) and dynamic systems (Smith & Thelen, 2003) occurred in the last three decades underline that cognition cannot be considered separately from a body and its environment. These frameworks constitute an inspiration for this thesis and a motivation to study motor control and sensorimotor processes in relation to other cognitive processes. Whether linguistic structures are grounded in sensorimotor processes will be an underlying question.A spoken message can be decomposed into sequences of linguistic units hierarchically structured. We argue that these speech units are grounded in sensorimotor representations, associating linguistic structures with auditory and motor information. Do these units correspond to words? Syllables? Phonemes? To probe the building blocks of speech production, we propose to use a paradigm of auditory-motor learning based on auditory feedback perturbation (Caudrelier & Rochet-Capellan, in press). This paradigm actually enables to change specific internal sensorimotor representations in speakers. Adaptation induces updating sensorimotor representations underlying the production of the training item. We assume that if this change affects the pronunciation of another word, it means that this word uses some of these updated representations. Thus, transfer patterns may reveal the structure of representations at stake.A first study in adults shows that transfer of auditory-motor learning occurs at word, syllable, and phoneme levels in parallel (Caudrelier, Schwartz, Perrier, Gerber, & Rochet-Capellan, 2018). These observations suggest that all these units may co-contribute to the organization of speech articulation in adult speakers. Experimental results are discussed in the light of existing theories and models of speech production. A second experiment suggests that whether a speaker reads a word aloud or names a picture may have an influence on the transfer of auditory-motor learning (Caudrelier, Perrier, Schwartz, & Rochet-Capellan, 2018). A third study in 4- to 5-year-old and 7- to 8 year-old children investigates whether phoneme sensorimotor representations may emerge during reading acquisition, or prior to it (Caudrelier et al., in revision). The observed transfer patterns suggest that phoneme representations emerge before reading acquisition, as a consequence of speech experience. Moreover, we found a relationship between adaptation to auditory perturbation and phonological awareness scores in both age groups. This suggests a link between sensorimotor representations and more explicit phonological representations. The potential causal or predictive nature of this link is discussed.Overall, this work exploits an original and fruitful tool to probe speech representations and study their development. It may have clinical implications with regards to speech rehabilitation, as well as developmental dyslexia. It also highlights connections between speech sensorimotor level and higher linguistic and contextual levels that further question the nature of speech representations.

<p>The goal of this study was to elucidate whether articulations of visual-speech are processed phonologically, and in the same manner as auditory-speech. Phonological processing, measured through the amplitude of the Phonological Mapping Negativity (PMN), was compared across three conditions using the electroencephalogram (EEG). Planned polynomial contrasts compared conditions of related and unrelated linguistic stimuli versus a non-linguistic control stimulus. A significant Site x Condition polynomial trend at posterior sites (Pz and Oz) during the N400 tine window revealed that the unrelated condition was most negative in amplitude, an N400-like deflection in the control condition reached similar negative amplitude, while the related condition was the most positive. A significant quadratic trend of PMN amplitude differentiated between the linguistic conditions and the non-linguistic control at site Fz, but did not differentiate the related and unrelated linguistic conditions from each other. These results support a conclusion that non-lexical speech-like and gurning motions of the lips are treated differently than articulations of a meaningful nature. Moreover, the PMN response patterned similarly in the linguistic conditions, compared to the non-linguistic control, indicating phonological processing. The prediction that PMN amplitude will distinguish visual-speech events congruent or incongruent to a phonologically constrained context was not supported.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

This study aimed to explore the knowledge, perceptions and skills of Foundation Phase English Second Language educators as determinants for developing a support programme for educators to improve their phonological awareness teaching skills. Phonological awareness skills are the most important precursor to reading skills, meaning that there is a strong correlation between phonological awareness and reading ability. However, research indicates that many educators do not have the necessary knowledge or skills to teach phonological awareness effectively. All Foundation Phase learners are compelled to have English as a First Additional Language from Grade 1 in order to prepare them for when English becomes the LoLT from Grade 4. It is therefore critical that all the language skills (including phonological awareness skills) necessary for learning are well established in the Foundation Phase. This qualitative study utilised a multiple case study with five ESL Foundation Phase (FP) educators in two rural schools in the Hartbeespoort area in the North West Province. These schools were quintile 1 government schools and all educators were employed by the Department of Basic Education. Data were collected in two phases. The first phase involved collecting data on educator knowledge, perceptions and teaching skills of phonological awareness, using open questionnaires, individual interviews, classroom observations and document analysis. Based on the findings of phase 1 a support programme was compiled to enhance the effective teaching and assessment of phonological awareness in ESL Foundation Phase classrooms. The second phase involved conducting a training workshop for the educators on phonological awareness and the support programme, to enable them to implement it in their classrooms after training. During implementation data were gathered via classroom observations and a focus group interview was conducted afterwards to determine the value of the support programme. The findings of this study revealed that, as a result of various factors, but especially because of FP educators’ own limited proficiency in English and inadequate training with regard to phonological awareness, they did not have sufficient knowledge and teaching skills to purposefully develop learners’ phonological awareness. After receiving focused and comprehensive training and follow-up in-service support, the FP educators seemed to gain an in depth understanding of phonological awareness, as well as improved skills in the teaching thereof. These findings were addressed in recommendations for the DBE and schools, emphasizing that pre-service, as well as in-service, educators need accurate training and constructive in-service support with regard to phonological awareness. This is essential in order to ensure that all learners learning English as a second language in the Foundation Phase, have developed sufficient phonological awareness skills to enable optimal learning in English as LoLT from Grade 4.

This study aimed to explore the knowledge, perceptions and skills of Foundation Phase English Second Language educators as determinants for developing a support programme for educators to improve their phonological awareness teaching skills. Phonological awareness skills are the most important precursor to reading skills, meaning that there is a strong correlation between phonological awareness and reading ability. However, research indicates that many educators do not have the necessary knowledge or skills to teach phonological awareness effectively. All Foundation Phase learners are compelled to have English as a First Additional Language from Grade 1 in order to prepare them for when English becomes the LoLT from Grade 4. It is therefore critical that all the language skills (including phonological awareness skills) necessary for learning are well established in the Foundation Phase. This qualitative study utilised a multiple case study with five ESL Foundation Phase (FP) educators in two rural schools in the Hartbeespoort area in the North West Province. These schools were quintile 1 government schools and all educators were employed by the Department of Basic Education. Data were collected in two phases. The first phase involved collecting data on educator knowledge, perceptions and teaching skills of phonological awareness, using open questionnaires, individual interviews, classroom observations and document analysis. Based on the findings of phase 1 a support programme was compiled to enhance the effective teaching and assessment of phonological awareness in ESL Foundation Phase classrooms. The second phase involved conducting a training workshop for the educators on phonological awareness and the support programme, to enable them to implement it in their classrooms after training. During implementation data were gathered via classroom observations and a focus group interview was conducted afterwards to determine the value of the support programme. The findings of this study revealed that, as a result of various factors, but especially because of FP educators’ own limited proficiency in English and inadequate training with regard to phonological awareness, they did not have sufficient knowledge and teaching skills to purposefully develop learners’ phonological awareness. After receiving focused and comprehensive training and follow-up in-service support, the FP educators seemed to gain an in depth understanding of phonological awareness, as well as improved skills in the teaching thereof. These findings were addressed in recommendations for the DBE and schools, emphasizing that pre-service, as well as in-service, educators need accurate training and constructive in-service support with regard to phonological awareness. This is essential in order to ensure that all learners learning English as a second language in the Foundation Phase, have developed sufficient phonological awareness skills to enable optimal learning in English as LoLT from Grade 4.

The purpose of this study is to identify factors in the home literacy environment using the Stony Brook Family Reading Survey (SBFRS) in order to understand the extent to which these factors predict phonemic awareness and other basic reading skills, as assessed by selected subtests from the Woodcock-Johnson III (WJ III). The present study used archival data to examine the home literacy habits of a sample of parents and preschool children ages 3-5 years (range in months= 36-67) from a private and a public preschool with a combination of high- and low-income backgrounds and various ethnicities. Using exploratory factor analyses with 165 participants, three dimensions of family reading behavior were identified from the SBFRS including Home Reading Emphasis, Adult Responsibility, and Parental Academic Expectations. Each of the SBFRS rotated factors considered together in a stepwise multiple regression analysis contributed significantly over and above age to the prediction of phonological awareness as measured by the Phonemic Awareness 3 (PA3) Cluster from the WJ III. The best order of predictors for PA3 of the WJ III, with stepwise entry, included Factor 1: Home Reading Emphasis, Factor 3: Parental Academic Expectations, and Factor 2: Adult Responsibility. One of the SBFRS rotated factors, Factor 1: Home Reading Emphasis, considered in a stepwise multiple regression analysis using age as a covariate contributed significantly to the prediction of basic reading as measured by the Basic Reading Skills (BRS) Cluster of the WJ III [WJ III BRS=.38+.26(Factor1)]. Results demonstrate the importance of the aforementioned factors in relation to the prediction of emergent literacy. Future studies are needed to investigate parental expectations, adult responsibility for child outcomes, the impact of fathers, and the importance of dominant home language on the emergence of literacy. Revision of the SBFRS, in addition to studies that include a wider range of SES, racial/ethnic, and linguistic groups, would help to standardize the measure for future use.