Fostering Language Awareness in a Plurilingual Learning Environment - Spodbujanje jezikovnega zavedanja v raznojezičnem učnem okolju

Oct 15, 2026

Fostering language awareness in plurilingual learning contexts through pluralistic language-teaching approaches is presented as an educational priority in a world shaped by linguistic and cultural diversity. A qualitative case study involving pupils aged five and six examines how DivCon-based plurilingual activities support development of language awareness. Learners’ responses and perceptions of different languages are analysed via interview-style surveys. Findings show enhanced language awareness and increased appreciation for language diversity.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

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Introduction

Theoretical background

Language awareness and young learners

DOI: [https://doi.org/10.26529/cepsj.1840](https://doi.org/10.26529/cepsj.1840) Fostering Language Awareness in a Plurilingual Learning Environment Špela Jolić Kozina1, Silva Bratož1 and Mojca Žefran*2 • Developing young learners’ language awareness is becoming an important educational goal in a rapidly globalised world characterised by linguistic and cultural diversity. Drawing upon previous research in the field, the article highlights the importance of promoting language diversity and nurturing language awareness from an early age. We present a qualitative study’s findings to analyse the potential of using pluralistic approaches to language teaching for developing young learners’ language awareness. The study was based on a case study format involving pupils aged five and six years. By exposing the participants to a set of plurilingual activities following the DivCon model, we were able to observe and identify their language awareness development. In addition, the pupils’ responses to language awareness activities and their perceptions of different languages were analysed through a survey in the form of interviews. The results of the study indicate positive outcomes, demonstrating an enhanced level of language awareness among the pupils, as well as an increased appreciation for language diversity. Keywords: language awareness, linguistic diversity, pluralistic approaches, young language learners 1 Faculty of Education, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia. 2 *Corresponding Author. Faculty of Education, University of Primorska, Koper, Slovenia; [Mojca.Zefran@pef.upr.si](Mojca.Zefran@pef.upr.si). Spodbujanje jezikovnega zavedanja v raznojezičnemučnem okolju Špela Jolić Kozina, Silva Bratož in Mojca Žefran • V današnjem svetu, zaznamovanem z jezikovno in s kulturno raznolikostjo, postaja zgodnje razvijanje jezikovnega zavedanja pomembenizobraževalni cilj. Ta članek na podlagi dozdajšnjih raziskav na tem področju poudarja pomen spodbujanja jezikovne raznolikosti in razvijanja jezikovnega zavedanja že od zgodnjega otroštva. Predstavljamo izsledke kvalitativne študije, v kateri preučujemo možnosti uporabe pluralističnih pristopov k poučevanju jezikov za razvijanje jezikovnega zavedanja mlajših učencev. Raziskava je temeljila na študiji primera, ki je vključevala učence, stare pet in šest let. Z udeleženci smo izvedli sklop raznojezičnih dejavnosti, ki so temeljile na modelu DivCon, hkrati pa smoopazovali in ugotavljali stopnjo njihovega jezikovnega zavedanja. Poleg tega smo z učenci izvedli intervjuje, katerih cilj je bil raziskati odziveučencev na izvedene dejavnosti in njihovo dojemanje različnih jezikov. Rezultati raziskave so pozitivni in kažejo na izboljšano raven jezikovnega zavedanja pri učencih ter večje sprejemanje jezikovne raznolikosti. Ključne besede: jezikovno zavedanje, jezikovna raznolikost, pluralistični pristopi, mlajši učenci tujih jezikov Introduction In present-day society, characterised by increasing linguistic and cultural diversity, fostering young learners’ language awareness has become an important educational goal. Although researchers agree that learners’ positive attitudes towards other languages should be encouraged and linguistic and cultural awareness developed, little research focuses on young learners (YL) (Chik & MeloPfeifer, 2020; Muñoz, 2013). Our research, conducted in the form of a qualitative study, was aimed at analysing the potential of using pluralistic approaches to language teaching to develop young learners’ language awareness. For that purpose, we designed and carried out a set of plurilingual activities based on the model‘Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in Context’ (DivCon), which promotes systematic exposure to linguistic and cultural diversity (Bratož & Sila, 2021, 2022). We start with a review of relevant research in the field of language awareness, with particular emphasis on young learners and pluralistic approaches to language learning, where we

FAQs

What educational goal motivates the study?

Developing young learners’ language awareness early in a globalised, linguistically and culturally diverse world is presented as an important educational goal.

What research design and participants were used?

The research uses a qualitative case study format with pupils aged five and six, organised into groups for the DivCon-based plurilingual activities.

How were learners’ language awareness and perceptions evaluated?

Learners’ responses to language-awareness activities and their perceptions of different languages were analysed using a survey in the form of interviews.

Oct 15, 2026

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