ERIC Number: EJ1082612
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1534-8458
EISSN: N/A
Ethnic Identification and School Language of Russian-Speaking Students in Estonia
Kemppainen, Raija P.; Hilton, Sterling C.; Rannut, Ülle
Journal of Language, Identity, and Education, v14 n5 p336-353 2015
Ethnic identification is closely tied to language. Society's appreciation of one's first language and the opportunity to use it may help strengthen ethnic identification. This research examined the relationship between ethnic identifications and school language and investigated other factors that potentially impact language-minority students' ethnic identification. The paper consists of empirical data analysis and follow-up research among Russian-speaking children attending Estonian-language and Russian-language schools in Estonia. The research was based on survey data of 186 students and their parents, utilizing a multiple logistic regression model. School language was overwhelmingly shown to be the most important factor explaining children's ethnic identification. The odds of Russian-speaking children having an Estonian identification were extremely high, over a hundredfold, for children attending Estonian-language schools compared to children attending Russian-language schools. The follow-up study of 8,340 Russian-speaking students and an interview of 224 Russian-speaking students in Estonia confirm the strong relationship of ethnic identification and school language. These are significant findings whose implications need to be considered in policy making and school practices.
Descriptors: Ethnicity, Self Concept, Russian, Foreign Countries, Interviews, Language Minorities, Finno Ugric Languages, Multiple Regression Analysis, Student Attitudes, Surveys, Parent Attitudes, Educational Practices, Educational Policy, Native Language, Second Language Learning, Language of Instruction, Correlation, Elementary School Students, Middle School Students, High School Students
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Middle Schools; Elementary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Estonia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A