Bilingualism Matters: Myths and Facts about Early Bilingual Development — Mileidis Gort

Bilingualism Matters: Myths and Facts about Early Bilingual Development — Mileidis Gort, CU Boulder School of Education professor in education equity and cultural diversity It has been estimated that more than half of the world's population is bilingual. For many, the bilingual journey begins in early childhood. In spite of its ubiquity, questions abound about the challenges and benefits of early bilingualism and how to best support language acquisition in young children. Attitudes and ‘professional recommendations’ against early bilingualism are often based on myths and misinterpretations, rather than findings from bilingual research. We will separate prevalent myths from scientific findings to answer common questions about early bilingual development. Video taken at the CU Boulder School of Education May 2019 Ed Talks at the Dairy Arts Center. Inspired by TED Talks, Ed Talks is a thought-provoking series aimed at challenging assumptions and creating new paradigms around diversity and inclusion in education and beyond.