Effectiveness of a heritage educational program for the acquisition of oral and written French and Tahitian in French Polynesia

The research examines the effects of a bilingual pedagogical program (French/Tahitian) on the acquisition of oral and written French as well as the Tahitian language itself in primary schools in French Polynesia. 125 children divided into an experimental group (partially schooled in Tahitian for 300 min per week) and a control group (schooled in French) were followed from the second year of kindergarten to Grade 1 and tested on Tahitian and French language competence. The results show that the program appears to have a positive impact on Tahitian proficiency, without any negative effect on learning of French (oral and reading).

► We investigate the effect of bilingual education on the French and on the Tahitian. ► We use quantitative statistical methods. ► The program provides better support for Tahitian, without sacrificing French.