ABSTRACT

Issues surrounding the introduction of English as a foreign language (EFL) instruction tochildren during the early childhood period are subject to much debate. Official governmentpolicies may not always reflect actual parental practices. Little is known about the extent towhich explicit EFL teaching by mothers occurs in the home context. This study investigatedwhether Taiwanese mothers of 3 to 6 year old children were teaching EFL to their children athome and the characteristics associated with this practice. A sample of 466 mothers ofpreschoolers completed a questionnaire identifying their home teaching practices andassessing their attitudes towards teaching EFL. Results indicated a positive trend towardshome EFL teaching, with teaching mothers tending to be aged between 30-39 years, morehighly educated and more confident about their own English abilities than those who were notteaching. The findings raise significant issues that can inform EFL teaching policy andpractice during the early childhood years.

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