Sociocultural Aspects of Russian‐Speaking Parents’ Choice of Language of Instruction for Their Children in Estonia

The present research was undertaken to identify sociocultural variables that influence whether Russian-speaking parents living in Estonia choose Russian, Estonian, or bilingual (Russian and Estonian) instruction for their children. To examine which sociocultural variables are related to parents'...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Comparative education review 2008-02, Vol.52 (1), p.93-119
Main Authors: Kemppainen, Raija Pini, Ferrin, Scott Ellis, Hite, Steven J., Hilton, Sterling C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bilingual education
Bilingual schools
Bilingual students
Children
Cultural Influences
Educational History
Educational Policy
Estonia
Ethnic identity
Foreign Countries
Language
Language instruction
Language Maintenance
Language Minorities
Language of Instruction
Language policy
Language Proficiency
Minority & ethnic groups
Minority Groups
Nonnative languages
Parent Attitudes
Parent Influence
Parents
Politics of Education
Russian
Russian culture
School Choice
Second language learning
Second Languages
Social Attitudes
Social Influences
Society
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Summary:The present research was undertaken to identify sociocultural variables that influence whether Russian-speaking parents living in Estonia choose Russian, Estonian, or bilingual (Russian and Estonian) instruction for their children. To examine which sociocultural variables are related to parents' choice of language of instruction, 346 Russian-speaking parents in three towns in Estonia were surveyed. Using a cross-sectional survey design, researchers collected data during the fall of 2001 in Estonia. Follow-up research conducted by Ulle Rannut tested further some of the findings of this study. Findings reveal that parents' own second-language proficiency was found to influence the type of school they chose for their children, supporting the importance of integration strategy in language behavior, as suggested by Schumann. The higher parents' proficiency in Estonian, the more likely they were to choose Estonian schools over Russian schools. (Contains 19 footnotes, 1 figure, and 5 tables.)
ISSN:0010-4086
1545-701X
DOI:10.1086/524307