“Embracing the value of language diversity through a transdisciplinary investigation of multilingualism” Presented by Gigi Luk ★

The UCI School of Education Brown Bag series presents

“Embracing the value of language diversity through a transdisciplinary investigation of multilingualism”

Presented by Gigi Luk

Associate Professor, McGill University

Monday, November 1, 2021

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. (PST)

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to connect via Zoom

Abstract: In many schools across the U.S., children who speak a minority language are tasked with learning new knowledge in English, which is their second, developing language. These children’s learning outcome, when compared with their English-proficient peers, is often reported as inferior. This apparent academic achievement gap between children with different levels of English proficiency is complex. In this talk, I will illustrate the complexity involved in the language-related academic outcomes through research in education, psychology, and neuroscience, painting a comprehensive picture beyond relative comparisons. A transdisciplinary approach situated in education is necessary to shift the discourse on performance deficits by recognizing and harnessing children’s strength to enrich learning. Going beyond recognizing language diversity in schools is the first step to embrace language diversity.

Bio: Gigi Luk’s research on the cognitive and neural consequences of multilingualism extends across the lifespan. She leads a research program that examines how diverse language experiences shapes development and learning using neuroimaging methods, behavioral methods, and educational data. Luk obtained her Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from York University, Canada. She then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Rotman Research Institute at the Baycrest Center before joining the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In January 2019, she joined the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology at McGill University.