| This thesis is devoted to the connection between bilingual education and first language attrition among immigrant children. First language attrition is a widespread phenomenon among immigrant school-age children; it starts as language shift from the first language to the dominant language of the host country. This thesis is an attempt to bridge the gap between the research on language shift/attrition and the research on bilingual education, in order to determine what features of bilingual programs offered worldwide would specifically target the problem of first language attrition among immigrant children.;Chapter 1 presents an overview of language attrition phenomena Chapter 2 describes various bilingual programs implemented worldwide in the past thirty years. Chapter 3 deals with the teaching methodology used in bilingual education programs.;The thesis concludes that it is possible to design a bilingual program that would ensure successful acquisition of the content of school subjects in two languages, while providing enough linguistic input to guarantee the maintenance of the first language, and fostering independent study skills to promote further L1 maintenance. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
