Sprachliche Bildung im Elementarbereich in Schulbüchern für Elementarpädagoginnen und Elementarpädagogen in Ausbildung

Abstract

This article examines how the overarching topic of language education in early child-hood education is anchored in textbooks and curricula at the Austrian Training Insti-tutes for Early Childhood Education (Bildungsanstalten für Elementarpädagogik, BAfEP), where prospective kindergarten teachers in Austria receive their formation. Curricula and approved textbooks for BAfEP according to the textbook list (Schul-buchaktion-Schulbuchliste) for the relevant subjects (German, English and Pedagogy) are analysed to determine which aspects of language education in early childhood ed-ucation are addressed in the textbooks and to what extent and in what thematic or didactic context this is done. The study draws on a digital corpus that was created during the Covid-19 Pandemic in spring 2020, when digital versions of textbooks were available free of charge. This approach is supplemented by a reference to the newly introduced compulsory subject ‘Early Language Education and Support’ as well as a didactic analysis focusing on the learning objectives, knowledge, and competencies addressed through the respective textbook content – while also identifying aspects of language education that may be omitted in the textbooks.