>

I know there has been a lot of work with kids on the topic of L2  
development's influence on children's L1 development, but I wonder if  
anyone has studied adults, who often have less exposure, and less  
structured exposure,  than children. Abbie Tom

> Both cognitive development and academic development in the first  

> language have been found to have positive effects on second-language  

> learning (Bialystock, 1991; Collier, 1989, 1992; Garcia, [E.] 1994;  

> Genessee, 1987, 1994; Thomas & Collier, 1997). Academic skills,  

> literacy development, concept formation, subject knowledge, and  

> strategy development learned in the first language transfer to the  

> second language. However, because literacy is socially situated, it is  

> equally critical to provide a supportive school envirornment that  

> allows the academic and cognitive development in the first language to  

> flourish.

>

> http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/content/cntareas/reading/ 

> li7lk12.htm

>

> The term common underlying proficiency (CUP) has also been used to  

> refer to the cognitive/academic proficiency that underlies academic  

> performance in both languages.

>

> http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JWCRAWFORD/cummins.htm

abtom at mindspring.com
Abbie Tom
Durham Technical Community College
Durham, NC US