Contribution of early second-language learning to the development of linguistic awareness and the acquisition of reading skills

The present study aims to validate the effects of second language learning on children's linguistic awareness. More particularly, we examine whether b ilingual background improves the ability to manipulate morpho-syntactic str ucture. We postulate that children who received a precocious learning of tw o languages (French-German) may develop enhanced awareness and control of s yntactic structure since they need an appropriate syntactic repertoire in e ach language. In return, these children will gain access to the written lan guage with more ease. Our results show an advantage for the children who at tended bilingual classes since kindergarten: they were better at grammatica l judgement and correction tasks and word recognition.