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