Iranian Journal of Applied Linguistics

en Mothers’ Presence Beside Their Children in EFL Classes: What Gains Does It Bring to Children? Mothers’ Presence Beside Their Children in EFL Classes: What Gains Does It Bring to Children? تخصصي Special پژوهشي Research <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Given the link between parental involvement and children’s academic outcomes, the current research set out to redress the imbalance created by the almost nonexistence of research evidence on the impacts of simultaneous presence of mothers beside their children in an EFL class. To this end, following a mixed-method approach (a quasi-experimental design and semi-structured interviews), 35 starter-level female children, aged 4-6, selected via convenience sampling were randomly assigned into an experimental group (N=18) in which mothers attended the class with their children, and a control group (N= 17) in which mothers did not. Findings unraveled that mothers’ in-class presence enhanced children’s English language vocabulary, increased their class attendance, provided a feeling of affection and safety to help them relax and get motivated, caused their in-class behaviors to be closely monitored, and created rapport and solidarity between home and school. Mothers’ in-class presence also provided a unique opportunity for mothers to co-teach with the teacher the new vocabularies to their children. The findings also suggested that teaching English to mothers prior to their children’s course of instruction assisted them in scaffolding their children in classes. The implication is that as a result of their ongoing in-class presence, mothers may become more vigilant influential agents in educational meetings and school board decision-makings. Also, stakeholders need to be encouraged to devise plans allowing them to harness more efficiently the positive impacts of mothers’ in-class presence and provoke parents’ active participation in classrooms. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Given the link between parental involvement and children’s academic outcomes, the current research set out to redress the imbalance created by the almost nonexistence of research evidence on the impacts of simultaneous presence of mothers beside their children in an EFL class. To this end, following a mixed-method approach (a quasi-experimental design and semi-structured interviews), 35 starter-level female children, aged 4-6, selected via convenience sampling were randomly assigned into an experimental group (N=18) in which mothers attended the class with their children, and a control group (N= 17) in which mothers did not. Findings unraveled that mothers’ in-class presence enhanced children’s English language vocabulary, increased their class attendance, provided a feeling of affection and safety to help them relax and get motivated, caused their in-class behaviors to be closely monitored, and created rapport and solidarity between home and school. Mothers’ in-class presence also provided a unique opportunity for mothers to co-teach with the teacher the new vocabularies to their children. The findings also suggested that teaching English to mothers prior to their children’s course of instruction assisted them in scaffolding their children in classes. The implication is that as a result of their ongoing in-class presence, mothers may become more vigilant influential agents in educational meetings and school board decision-makings. Also, stakeholders need to be encouraged to devise plans allowing them to harness more efficiently the positive impacts of mothers’ in-class presence and provoke parents’ active participation in classrooms. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"></div> Children language learning, EFL, Mothers’ in-class presence, Parental involvement Children language learning, EFL, Mothers’ in-class presence, Parental involvement 125 149 http://ijal.khu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1380-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Gholamhossein Shahini Gholamhossein Shahini ghshahini@rose.shirazu.ac.ir 10031947532846002694 10031947532846002694 Yes Shiraz University Shiraz University Mohammad Hakani Mohammad Hakani Mohammadhakani@yahoo.com 10031947532846002695 10031947532846002695 No Shiraz University Shiraz University