Abstract

This chapter starts with an overview of young English learners in East Asia. It evaluates the general trends and educational policies for English learning and developing kindergarten and school practices for young English learners in select East Asian countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. We consider a range of current principles and practices which need to be understood in the educational and social development contexts of this region, and in relation to social and cultural expectations of parents and within institutions, e.g., regarding roles of English and local cultures of learning.