A Spanish Vocabulary App-Based Training Program For Parents Of Dual Language Learners At Risk For Academic Failure

Abstract

This research examined the effectiveness of an app-based training program for parents to enhance Spanish vocabulary in their children with late language emergence. The program was developed based on Teach-Model-Coach-Review, an adult learning instructional approach. Three parents were trained on dialogic reading strategies (completion, distancing, questions), and were asked to read to their children using the strategies to the best of their ability. Training focused on one of the three strategies at a time, and parents were given access to training once a week. Data collection consisted of tracking parents’ use of reading strategies during their weekly reading sessions with their children via audio recorders. A visual analysis of the data indicated a functional relation between the training program and the usage of dialogic reading strategies by the participants. Further research is needed to determine if parent training program can result in long-term use of strategies during reading times.