Language and the Learning Crisis: Evidence of Transfer Threshold Mechanisms in Multilingual Reading in South India
研究南印度多语环境下本地语言与英语阅读成绩的非线性关系，发现过早英语教学阻碍识字，而达到本地语言阅读阈值后则促进英语过渡，有助于解释全球入学率上升但学习成果滞后的现象。
This paper provides evidence for a non-linear relationship between local language and English reading scores in multilingual South India. The mechanism suggests that being taught English prematurely may lead to struggles in English literacy acquisition; whereas being taught English after achieving a threshold reading level in the local language may lead to success in transitioning to English literacy acquisition. We base our findings on non-parametric and parametric regression analysis of data from assessments that were uniquely designed for South and Southeast Asian languages, and for multilingual children. Our findings help explain the global trend of increased school enrolment, with learning achievements lagging.