How the Materiality of Mobile Video Chats Shapes Emergent Language Learning Practices in Early Childhood

• Language learning practices are shaped by their material conditions. Using an action research case study intervention, this paper shows how the introduction of mobile video chats for children learning a home language creates the material conditions for language engagement and participation practice to emerge that encourage the learning of the home language in additional contexts. The mobile video chat’s concomitant role in enacting change in the children’s home language learning practices facilitates home language learning in authentic and meaningful interactions. The material characteristics of the microphone, the web-camera, the loudspeaker, Skype and the portability of the tablet together with the material characteristics of their physical environment have the potential to enact change in children’s additional language learning through listening, seeing, speaking, moving, and showing in virtual interaction with a grandparent as adult conversational partner.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap -- Lärande (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences -- Learning (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Annan teknik -- Övrig annan teknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Other Engineering and Technologies -- Other Engineering and Technologies not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

HUMANIORA  -- Språk och litteratur (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Languages and Literature (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Mobile devices

Video chats

Material conditions

Language learning opportunities

Language learning interactions

Bilingualism

Home language

Childhood

Heritage language

Intergenerational learning

Swedish Didactics

Svenska språket med didaktisk inriktning

Pedagogics and Educational Sciences

Pedagogik och Utbildningsvetenskap

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kap (subject category)