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Language of Assessment Matters: Early Learning Outcomes When Preschool Children Are Tested in isiXhosa Mother Tongue vs in English: The Language of Learning and Teaching

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Title: Language of Assessment Matters: Early Learning Outcomes When Preschool Children Are Tested in isiXhosa Mother Tongue vs in English: The Language of Learning and Teaching
Language: English
Authors: Andrew Dawes (ORCID 0000-0002-7185-3049), Linda Biersteker (ORCID 0000-0002-1521-5675), Colin Tredoux (ORCID 0000-0002-9653-786X)
Source: South African Journal of Childhood Education. 2026 16(1).
Availability: AOSIS. 15 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Cape Town, 7550 South Africa. Tel: +27-21-975-2602; Fax: +27-21-975-4635; e-mail: publishing@aosis.co.za; Web site: https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 7
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Preschool Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Preschool Education, Preschool Children, Language Usage, Tests, Native Language, African Languages, English (Second Language), Language of Instruction, Outcome Measures, Testing
Geographic Terms: South Africa
ISSN: 2223-7674
2223-7682
Abstract: Background: Many young children in South Africa are enrolled in early learning programmes (ELPs) that use a different language of learning and teaching (LOLT) from their mother tongue. In which language should they be assessed? Aim: To investigate the effect of the language of testing on Early Learning Outcomes Measure 4&5 (ELOM 4&5) performance. Setting: Preschool Programmes. Methods: The nationally standardised ELOM 4&5 was administered to isiXhosa-speaking children (39 boys and 46 girls) attending English LOLT programmes (mean age = 62.12 months; standard deviation[sd] = 4.36). The language of assessment order was counterbalanced (English first and isiXhosa second or vice versa). A mixed linear model with fixed and random effects was fitted with ELOM 4&5 Total score at assessment time 2 in language 2 (English or isiXhosa) as the dependent variable. The model included the following predictors: ELOM 4&5 Total score in the language assessed at time 1, days between assessments, sex, age in months and ratings of Task Orientation. Results: Children performed better in isiXhosa regardless of the language of administration order. Children assessed in English first performed better when tested in isiXhosa second. Conclusion: Early Learning Outcomes Measure 4&5 test scores of English LOLT isiXhosa-speaking children in ELPs are likely to be more valid indicators of their ability when children are tested in their mother tongue language. Contribution: This first South African study to investigate the effects of language of test administration on ELOM 4&5 performance in children attending English LOLT programmes indicates that isiXhosa speakers should be assessed in their mother tongue as required by the national home language assessment policy.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1501332
Database: ERIC
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  Availability: 0
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Language of Assessment Matters: Early Learning Outcomes When Preschool Children Are Tested in isiXhosa Mother Tongue vs in English: The Language of Learning and Teaching
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Andrew+Dawes%22">Andrew Dawes</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7185-3049">0000-0002-7185-3049</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Linda+Biersteker%22">Linda Biersteker</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1521-5675">0000-0002-1521-5675</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Colin+Tredoux%22">Colin Tredoux</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9653-786X">0000-0002-9653-786X</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22South+African+Journal+of+Childhood+Education%22"><i>South African Journal of Childhood Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 16(1).
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  Data: AOSIS. 15 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Cape Town, 7550 South Africa. Tel: +27-21-975-2602; Fax: +27-21-975-4635; e-mail: publishing@aosis.co.za; Web site: https://sajce.co.za/index.php/sajce
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 7
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Education%22">Preschool Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+Children%22">Preschool Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Usage%22">Language Usage</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tests%22">Tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Native+Language%22">Native Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22African+Languages%22">African Languages</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+%28Second+Language%29%22">English (Second Language)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+of+Instruction%22">Language of Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outcome+Measures%22">Outcome Measures</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Testing%22">Testing</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22South+Africa%22">South Africa</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2223-7674<br />2223-7682
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Many young children in South Africa are enrolled in early learning programmes (ELPs) that use a different language of learning and teaching (LOLT) from their mother tongue. In which language should they be assessed? Aim: To investigate the effect of the language of testing on Early Learning Outcomes Measure 4&5 (ELOM 4&5) performance. Setting: Preschool Programmes. Methods: The nationally standardised ELOM 4&5 was administered to isiXhosa-speaking children (39 boys and 46 girls) attending English LOLT programmes (mean age = 62.12 months; standard deviation[sd] = 4.36). The language of assessment order was counterbalanced (English first and isiXhosa second or vice versa). A mixed linear model with fixed and random effects was fitted with ELOM 4&5 Total score at assessment time 2 in language 2 (English or isiXhosa) as the dependent variable. The model included the following predictors: ELOM 4&5 Total score in the language assessed at time 1, days between assessments, sex, age in months and ratings of Task Orientation. Results: Children performed better in isiXhosa regardless of the language of administration order. Children assessed in English first performed better when tested in isiXhosa second. Conclusion: Early Learning Outcomes Measure 4&5 test scores of English LOLT isiXhosa-speaking children in ELPs are likely to be more valid indicators of their ability when children are tested in their mother tongue language. Contribution: This first South African study to investigate the effects of language of test administration on ELOM 4&5 performance in children attending English LOLT programmes indicates that isiXhosa speakers should be assessed in their mother tongue as required by the national home language assessment policy.
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  Data: As Provided
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  Data: 2026
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  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1501332
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 7
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Usage
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Tests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Native Language
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: African Languages
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English (Second Language)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language of Instruction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Outcome Measures
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Testing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: South Africa
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Language of Assessment Matters: Early Learning Outcomes When Preschool Children Are Tested in isiXhosa Mother Tongue vs in English: The Language of Learning and Teaching
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            NameFull: Linda Biersteker
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