Browsing by Subject "S2-lapsi/kaksikielisyys (bilingualism)"

The purpose of this study was to describe kindergarten special education teacher´s experience and view about identification tools for language disorders of bilingual children that are kindergarten age. The study method was qualitative research. Research data were collected by semi-structured interview because one of the main focuses was to show interviewees own voice. Five (5) kindergarten special education teachers from Helsinki metropolitan area participated in this study. Data analysis method in this study was content analysis. The study shows that kindergarten special education teachers who participated in study weren´t satisfied about the tools, that are now on available and currently on use. Tests that were used was experienced too vast and it was complicated to perceive what was the cause and what was the consequence of the preschool age bilingual children’s language disorders. Most useful tool was observation. Observation has to be done systematically and observations needed to been written down as soon as possible so that observators were able to return them at a later stage. Observations have to be done also in a variety of different situations and the need to focus on only for one specific aspect at a time. Parents information about their children’s level of mother language was seen as important part of the identification of language disorders. Without that information it was difficult to access the level that children´s Finnish should be. Help was also received from maternity clinic, interpreters, consulting special education teacher´s and areas bilingual teachers. In particular, assistance from various parties in order to obtain a referral to a speech therapist were seen especially important.