Longitudinal links between bilingualism, skills, and academic outcomes in children in poverty
Lessons learned about bilingualism from the Miami School Readiness Project, a large-scale, 20+ year longitudinal study.
Longitudinal links between bilingualism, skills, and academic outcomes in children in poverty
13 Oct 2025, 18:00 – 19:30
Although many have studied the cognitive effects of bilingualism in laboratory settings, few have examined children’s bilingual language trajectories in the real world and linked bilingualism longitudinally to authentic, educational outcomes for low-income, dual language learners (DLLs).
In this talk, Adam Winsler will describe lessons learned about bilingualism from his large-scale, 20+ year longitudinal study, the Miami School Readiness Project.
Over 30,000 ethnically and linguistically diverse children, largely in poverty, were assessed for school readiness (cognitive, language, motor, social, and behavioural skills) at age four and then followed longitudinally throughout their public-school career until graduation from high school.
Factors that predict speed of L2 (English) acquisition, and the many, positive, long-term, academic outcomes associated with early bilingualism will be discussed.
This event will be particularly useful for professionals in education, parents of multilingual children, and anyone interested in multilingualism.
Multilingualism and Diversity: Impact on Education, Health and Society seminar series
This seminar series aims to bridge science with practice in education. Leading experts in linguistics, psychological sciences and neurosciences will engage with education practitioners, parents, students and members of the public who have an interest in multicultural diversity and inclusion.
Related links
Image
the faces / Adobe Stock.
Dr Adam Winsler
Professor of Applied Developmental Psychology
George Mason University
He studies bilingual language development, private speech and executive function, school readiness, the arts in child development, and academic outcomes for marginalised youth.
An author of 175+ publications and three books, he has secured nearly $5M in funding from agencies including IES and NEA.
He is also Co–Editor-in-Chief of Child Development.
Further information
Ticketing
Pre-booking essential
Cost
Free
Open to
All
Availability
Yes
Related events
The Referral Maze
Join this event workshop exploring the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) support system with UCL's Dr Nelly Ali and Islington Council's Karolina Bober and Catherine Briody
New perspectives on histories of educational resistance in South Africa
The seminar will discuss the recently published book reviewing the history of the South African NECC (National Education Co-ordinating Committee) looking at the period between 1985-1995.
Exploring your inner selves: UCL collaborates with JAGA-NSF for young people of African heritage
How can inner conversations with your ‘selves’ bring fresh creative or intellectual perspectives?