In the first decade of life, children become bilingual in different language learning environments. Many children start learning two languages from birth (Bilingual First Language Acquisition). In early childhood hitherto monolingual children start hearing a second language through daycare or preschool (Early Second Language Acquisition). Yet other hitherto monolingual children in middle childhood may acquire a second language only after entering school (Second Language Acquisition). This Element explains how these different language learning settings dynamically affect bilingual children's language learning trajectories. All children eventually learn to speak the societal language, but they often do not learn to fluently speak their non-societal language and may even stop speaking it. Children's and families' harmonious bilingualism is threatened if bilingual children do not develop high proficiency in both languages. Educational institutions and parental conversational practices play a pivotal role in supporting harmonious bilingual development.

Diese Einführung in englischer Sprache präsentiert in 14 Kapiteln die grundlegenden Themen und Gegenstandsbereiche der Englischdidaktik. Gleichermaßen praxisnah wie theoretisch fundiert, behandelt der Band zentrale Prinzipien und Kompetenzbereiche eines modernen Fremdsprachenunterrichts. Ausgehend von den zentralen Akteur/innen (Lehrende und Lernende) und mit Blick auf die Teilbereiche der Sprach-, Literatur- und Kulturdidaktik werden zudem Vorschläge für den Einsatz unterschiedlicher Materialien und Medien diskutiert. Weitere Kapitel widmen sich den institutionellen Organisationsstrukturen und dem Bereich Assessment/Diagnose. Der Band erscheint in zweifarbiger Gestaltung, mit Definitionen und Beispielen sowie mit zahlreichen Abbildungen. This comprehensive introduction presents the fundamental topics and issues of TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) in 14 chapters. Integrating both profound theoretical and creative practical considerations, the central principles and competence domains of modern foreign language teaching are discussed. Starting with the main classroom agents (teachers and learners), the chapters outline a variety of content areas (language, literature, cultural issues) and thoroughly review materials, media and methods. Additional chapters are concerned with the historical development of English language teaching, its current institutional organisation as well as assessment and evaluation.

Biographical note: Anna Xymena Wieczorek (Dr. phil.), born in 1985, obtained her PhD in sociology within the International Research Training Group Diversity: Mediating Difference in Transcultural Spaces at the University of Trier. Her research project included several stays abroad at the collaborating Université de Montréal as well as in Toronto and Berlin for field activities. Her research interests are migration, mobility and transnational studies as well as cultural, diversity and gender studies.