Moroccan immigrants learning Spanish writing (compared with L1 children)

Abstract

Journal of Second Language Writing Moroccan Immigrants Learning Spanish Writing (Compared with Vernacular Children) --Manuscript Draft-- Manuscript Number: SECLAN-D-20-00013 Article Type: VSI: Issue on LESLLA learners Keywords: non-native adults; immigration; children; emergent literacy; emergent writing Corresponding Author: First Author: Order of Authors: Abstract: In this article we present a comparative qualitative study of the phenomena observed in the development of writing by native children and non-native adults of Moroccan origin who are becoming literate in Spanish. The samples were gathered in Granada, Spain, and analyzed using a theoretical framework based on the classification presented by Ferreiro and Teberosky (1979). The results suggest that non-native adults go through the same learning stages as native children although some differences are observed, mainly with regards to the absence of the pre-phonic stages and the syllabic sub- stage in the case of the adults who are also influenced by other languages and writing systems. In order to obtain more representative results, future studies should gather samples of other immigrant communities.