The acquisition of English spelling by Dutch primary school students: an exploratory study on users of Words&Birds

Abstract

The main purpose of this exploratory study is to develop an understanding of the current position of English spelling instruction in Dutch primary education from grade five to grade eight. Spelling instruction is often limited and implicit. However, there is little known about the actual spelling instruction inside the classroom of Dutch vvtoE schools that offer English from the first grade onwards and use Words&Birds (W&B), an online English vocabulary trainer. By means of a literature overview and interviews with students from four schools, the research question (How do Dutch primary school students that use Words&Birds acquire English orthography through in-class instruction and through Words&Birds?) is answered. It appeared that spelling instruction is indeed very limited and restricted to activity books. Explicit instruction on the rules of the English orthography is absent. W&B is often used as an addition to in-class instruction. Although a wide variety of words are offered, explicit spelling instruction is not. Suggestions for further research and improvements for W&B are given.