Developing a test to assess English language skills in bilingual children
Test of English Language Learning (TELL)
This study is working on a new test to help check how well bilingual kids aged 4 to 11, who speak Spanish or Vietnamese, are developing their English grammar skills, so we can better support those who might have language challenges.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10748367 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research aims to create and validate a standardized test that measures grammatical development in English for bilingual children aged 4 to 11 who speak Spanish or Vietnamese. The project will involve evaluating existing data, piloting test items, and conducting field tests to ensure the tool accurately identifies developmental language disorders (DLD) among these children. By focusing on two of the largest groups of English language learners (ELLs) in the U.S., the study seeks to provide a reliable assessment method that can differentiate between children with and without DLD. The findings will contribute to understanding language acquisition in bilingual contexts and support better educational interventions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are bilingual children aged 4 to 11 who speak either Spanish or Vietnamese and may have developmental language disorders.
Not a fit: Children who are not bilingual or who do not fall within the specified age range may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a valuable tool for identifying language development issues in bilingual children, leading to more effective educational support.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in developing language assessment tools for bilingual populations, indicating that this approach has potential for meaningful impact.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peña, Elizabeth D — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Peña, Elizabeth D
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.