Effective second language teaching approaches and methods: rapid evidence assessment

The purpose of the assessment is to inform the Welsh Government’s planning of Welsh language provision for learners aged 3-16, as it undertakes its reform of curriculum and assessment arrangements in Wales.

It assesses research on language teaching practices and interventions used in international and national contexts parallel or comparable to Wales, and addresses the following research question:

‘What teaching approaches and methods are effective in developing young learners’ second language competence, according to high quality empirical evidence?’

The findings of the study are presented in syntheses of the evidence, under six areas of language competence: vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, speaking and listening, and general language competence.  

The report then presents a summary of the findings applied to the Welsh context. It also notes that there are key psycholinguistic, sociolinguistic, educational and affective issues, excluded from this study, that are relevant to the future of effective Welsh language education, and identifies areas that merit further research attention.