Teachers perceptions of the effects of foreign language education on 5-and-6-year-old children’s cognitive and cultural development

Foreign language education is provided to very young learners in many private and some state pre-school institutions in Turkey today. The purpose of this study is to examine teachers? perceptions of the effects of foreign language education on 5-and- 6-year-old children?s cognitive and cultural development and how these perceptions are reflected in the classroom environment. Data sources of this research includes interviews with 3 pre-school foreign language teachers and field notes of twenty classroom observations. The participants, who work at pre-school institutions in different locations of Istanbul, completed an interview comprising questions about their institutions, students? learning environment, their qualifications as teachers, their feelings and perceptions concerning foreign language education at pre-school level and its effects on learners? cognitive and cultural development, their knowledge of 5-and-6-year-old children?s characteristics and appropriate in-class activities for the age group in question. The participants? answers to the interview questions were compared with their actual classroom applications gathered through observations and extensive field notes. Results of this descriptive study suggest that participant teachers have positive feelings and perceptions concerning foreign language education at pre-school level and that they believe foreign language education at this level affects learners? cognitive and cultural development positively. The research also helps to identify some aspects of real-life classroom practices and provides a better understanding of effective foreign language teaching at pre-school level. This research finally suggests some arrangements and improvements in the field of preschool foreign language education that can be made according to preschool foreign language teachers? perceptions. Keywords: Preschool Foreign Language Education, Preschool Institutions, Preschool Foreign Language Teachers, 5-and-6-year-old Children, Cognitive Development, Cultural Development, Teachers? Perceptions