Unveiling the Language Journey: From Pre-Linguistic Stages to Addressing Language Difficulties in Classroom and Home Environments 1. Exploring Language Development: Pre-Linguistic and Adult-Like Lang

1.1 The pre-linguistic stage and the adult-like language stage in language development can be defined as follows: Pre-Linguistic Stage: This period, from birth to approximately 12 months, involves babies experimenting with sounds, but not forming words. They communicate through non-verbal means like crying, cooing, babbling, and other vocalizations. Adult-like Language Stage: Known as the later language development stage, it typically starts at around 7 years of age and continues into adulthood. At this stage, the child is capable of understanding and using complex sentences, practising proper grammatical rules, learning new words quickly and using language for more abstract and creative purposes. 1.2 Emergent literacy refers to the early process of acquiring literacy and includes all the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that are precursors to reading and writing. It has its roots in the child's early experiences with books, storytelling, and scribbling, among other literacy-related activities. Emergent literacy activities, like storybook reading or parent-child conversations, can foster the development of oral language skills, comprehension abilities, vocabulary, print awareness, and phonological sensitivity. These foundational skills are crucial for a child’s later reading and writing abilities. 1.3 Grade R is a crucial year as it serves as the child's transition from informal learning to the more structured learning environment of Grade 1. The child retells stories, understands the concept of 'story', learns to scribble and write, increases in vocabulary, and enhances listening skills. Teachers and parents play a crucial role in fostering an environment that encourages language development. They can engage children in conversations, read together, encourage creative play, and provide a print-rich environment. 1.4 Milestones observed in language development include: understanding spoken words and sentences, learning the alphabet, understanding basic grammar, using three-word sentences, following complex commands, recognizing print and drawings, as well as correctly naming colors and shapes. 1.5 Two challenges during language development might be limited vocabulary and difficulty in understanding complex sentences. To support language acquisition in classroom, a teacher could include activities that introduce new words and structure to pupils, like story-telling, puppet-show, or word games. At home, parents can read more to children, engage them in conversations, and ask open-ended questions to encourage them to express their thoughts and feelings. 1.6 Teachers can address language-related difficulties at school by using a variety of teaching methods, incorporating visual aids, running after-school tutoring programmes, and implementing personalized learning plans. At home, parents or caregivers can read regularly with their children, have ongoing conversations, and provide a language-rich environment with books, songs and rhymes. Both environments can use a collaborative approach, sharing information about the child’s progress and working together to meet their individual needs.