Development of writing and reading skills in the process of early foreign language education: the perspective of English language teachers

Abstract

The aim of the research is to substantiate, based on the opinion of teachers, the necessity of developing early foreign language literacy (writing and reading in English) in preschoolers and primary school children. The article presents the results of a survey of teachers (n = 56) on the issue of developing writing and reading skills in a foreign (English) language in children of preschool and primary school age. The teachers' opinions regarding the reasons for their willingness/unwillingness to develop children's foreign language literacy from preschool age, the optimal age to start learning, and the specifics of organizing the process were analyzed. Based on the generalized survey data, the authors developed methodological recommendations for the development of early foreign language literacy. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that, for the first time, taking into account the opinions of Russian teachers working in mono- and bilingual environments, the necessity of developing early foreign language literacy in preschoolers and primary school children is substantiated. As a result of the study, it was revealed that the majority of respondents (80%) support the early development of foreign language literacy. The methodological recommendations propose a non-linear order of introducing letters, the simultaneous introduction of letters and sounds, the gradual mastery of grapheme registers, overload prevention, and strategies for bilingual conditions, while noting the importance of multisensory and game-based methods.

Research materials

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About this article

Publication history

• Received: April 21, 2026.
• Published: July 30, 2026.

Keywords

• раннее иноязычное образование
• дошкольное иноязычное образование
• обучение грамоте
• формирование навыков письма
• формирование навыков чтения
• early foreign language education
• preschool foreign language education
• literacy instruction
• development of writing skills
• development of reading skills

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