Association of language proficiency and leisure time language use among the children who speak Finnish as an additional language

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between Finnish language proficiency and its use during leisure activities among children who speak Finnish as an additional language. Using data from the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC), the study analyzes the language use patterns of 1,530 ninth-grade students from 242 schools. Language proficiency, measured through the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), is examined in relation to online activities and verbal interactions in Finnish. The analysis employs linear regression to evaluate the impact of various factors, including years of basic education, family language, mother tongue instruction, attitudes towards Finnish, and parental education. The findings reveal a significant positive association between Finnish language proficiency and the use of Finnish in online activities and verbal communications. Children with higher proficiency are more likely to engage in online activities such as chatting with friends and following social media, as well as speaking Finnish in various settings. Although no significant gender effect is observed in both online and verbal communication. Participants with Somali or Arabic as their mother tongue show a stronger tendency to use Finnish online and in verbal interactions, while Estonian-speaking children exhibit lower engagement in Finnish language use. Longer durations of basic education correlate positively with online Finnish use, as well as with speaking frequency. Interestingly, higher parental education levels are associated with decreased online Finnish use and verbal communication of their children, suggesting complex socio-economic dynamics. Non-participation in mother tongue instruction is linked to both more online use and higher speaking frequency in Finnish, emphasizing the potential trade-off between mother tongue and Finnish language proficiency. The study underscores the importance of fostering positive attitudes towards the Finnish language to enhance its use and proficiency. These insights provide valuable implications for policymakers and educators in supporting language acquisition and integration among multilingual adolescents in Finland.