The project investigates the effectiveness of speech-language intervention for 4-year-old multilingual children with immigrant backgrounds. Intervention is weekly language-focused small group activity in kindergarten. In intervention and control groups the development of language comprehension, language expression and literacy skills are compared five times during a 4-year follow-up. Follow-up investigations are made at 4 to 5 years before and after intervention, and after a baseline, and in early school years. The data has been collected during the years 2015-2023.
The study provides new insights into the impact of language intervention on multilingual development. If the language intervention is found to be effective, the long-term goal is to expand the activity nationally to support the language skills of multilingual children. The aim is thus to achieve societal empowerment: to prevent the exclusion of refugee and expatriate children from education and career paths by promoting their language skills.
PhD, university researcher Minnaleena Toivola, PhD students Henna Ahola, Alexandra Kriikkula, Niina Nylander, Anu Saari, and Minea Tikkanen.
Tuomo Häikiö (University of Turku), and Veslemoy Rydland (University of Oslo).
Vilja Parkkunen, Elisa Ristimäki, Jutta Maja, Inkeri Laine & Taija Kurki (MA students, University of Turku)
Niina Aho, Tia Augustin, Sini Hirvensalo, Ilona Huttunen, Elina Keränen, Iiris Martin, Maiju Mäkiö, Maria Nukarinen, Lotta Seppänen (MA students, University of Turku)
Aino Airaksinen, Kristiina Junter, Aleksandra Kriikkula, Hanna-Kaisa Salmi, Salla Salopuro, Leena Urrio (MA students, University of Helsinki)
minnaleena.toivola@helsinki.fi
puh. +358 40 805 3184
Alfred Kordelinin Säätiö Suuret Kulttuurihankkeet apuraha 2024-2026