The influence of English education and parental attitudes on racial attitudes of the first-grade students in Taiwan

One hundred and two Taiwanese first graders with an age range from 79 months to 90 months participated in this study. Their racial attitude and its relationship with early English learning were examined. Sixty students who had received formal English education were sorted into a English Group, and 42 students who had never received formal English education were sorted into a No-English Group. The relationship between students' racial attitudes and self-concepts was evaluated. In addition, parental attitude toward children's English learning was inspected to see its influence on children's racial attitudes. The study found that early English learning did not further young children's racial attitude toward Caucasian preference. Generally, pro-Euro/anti-Asian bias existed in Taiwanese children's racial attitudes, and girls displayed more significant pro-Euro/anti-Asian bias than boys. Although Taiwanese children displayed pro-Euro/anti-Asian biases, this bias did not affect their self-concept. In Taiwan, parents' attitude toward children's English learning was strong; however, it did not relate to children's racial attitudes.