Status: Now available on demand
Duration: 58 minutes
New research using LENA’s “talk pedometer” technology reveals a troubling gap: dual language learners (DLLs) in toddler and preschool classrooms are experiencing significantly fewer conversational turns than their monolingual peers.
In this webinar, a panel of experts and advocates unpacks the data and explores practical strategies to close that gap and foster equity in early learning environments.
Topics include:
- Quantitative findings on the interaction gap for DLLs
- Root causes and structural challenges
- Reframing multilingualism as an asset, not a deficit
- Moving beyond myths to build inclusive, research-aligned practices
Panelists:
- Nathalia Bustamante, Strategic Partnerships Manager, LENA
- Jill Gilkerson, Chief Research and Evaluation Officer, LENA
- Anne Larson, Research Associate, University of Minnesota
- Victoria Tafoya, Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
- Pilar Fort, Early Childhood Care & Development Advisor, Whole Child International