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ERI Talk - Kathrin Hohmann: "The development of reading acquisition literacy skills in bilingual German–Spanish children: an analysis of precursors and influential variables"

  • November 10th, 2025
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November 14, 2025 – 1:00 p.m. On-site and online session (Room M204, Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy). Language: English.

The development of reading acquisition literacy skills in bilingual German–Spanish children: an analysis of precursors and influential variables

Kathrin Hohmann

University of Valencia

 

This dissertation investigates how early precursor skills—phonological awareness, rapid automatized naming (RAN), and letter knowledge—shape the development of reading in both German and Spanish among children attending a German immersion school in Valencia. Using a longitudinal design across two cohorts, preschool measures (WVT in German; BIL in Spanish) were collected before school entry and linked to standardized primary-school reading outcomes (ELFE II; PROLEC-R). The sample comprised two cohorts tested at preschool and again in primary school; analyses included within-language and cross-linguistic regressions to examine predictors for monolingual and bilingual subgroups. Results show that naming speed robustly predicts later reading in both German and Spanish, while phonological awareness and letter knowledge exhibit language-specific effects: phonological awareness predicted German reading in monolinguals, and preschool letter knowledge predicted Spanish reading outcomes, indicating partial cross-linguistic transfer. Bilingual children demonstrated comparable naming speeds across languages and, overall, slightly better performance on several German subtests. Data were analyzed using multiple regression models and cohort-combined analyses to increase power. Recommendations include early, language-sensitive screening and classroom activities that strengthen letter knowledge and rapid naming to support cross-linguistic transfer.

Bio

Kathrin Hohmann is a childhood pedagogue (M.A.), author, and researcher completing her doctoral thesis at the Universitat de València (PhD programme “Lectura y Comprensión”). Her research focuses on bilingual literacy development and early reading precursors. Kathrin delivers professional training, produces a podcast on early childhood education, and works closely with educators to translate research into kindergarten practice. She is co-founder of an academy for need-oriented pedagogy that trains and upskills practitioners. Kathrin is also the author of several practitioner books published in Germany, including Gemeinsam durch die Wut, Kinder bedürfnisorientiert begleiten, and Augenhöhe statt Strafen.