This project explores the role of "chunks" (i.e. multi-word/multi-morpheme units) in early foreign language learning. Chunks have been considered as important cornerstones of foreign language learning at least since the 1990s (e.g. in Lewis’ (1993) Lexical Approach), and an increased focus on language chunks – as well as a dissolution of boundaries between vocabulary and grammar – in the EFL classroom is also in line with current grammatical theories such as Construction Grammar (e.g. Herbst 2016). However, so far there is little empirical evidence on the role that formulaic sequences play in children’s early language learning (Schulz et al. 2023) and in respective coursebooks for primary education. This study (1) analyses how frequently and in which forms chunks are included in coursebooks for primary English, and (2) will be exploring the role chunks play in early FLL in an intervention study in the primary context.
Forschungs- & Publikationsdatenbank
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Schwemmer, Katja (Leitung)Profil