USF Bilingual Language and Literacy Laboratory

USF Bilingual Language and Literacy Laboratory 📚 Empowering Bilingual Literacy & Communication

🔍 Research | 📖 Education | 🌍 Community Outreach

Congratulations to our PhD student, Lucy Agbo, on her acceptance into the 2026 ASHA Student Leadership Program (MSLP)! 🎉...
09/03/2026

Congratulations to our PhD student, Lucy Agbo, on her acceptance into the 2026 ASHA Student Leadership Program (MSLP)! 🎉

The MSLP is a six-day leadership program held during the ASHA Convention that brings together emerging leaders in communication sciences and disorders to strengthen their leadership skills, connect with professionals and fellow students, and learn more about ASHA and the professions.

We are so excited for Lucy to represent our lab and take part in this incredible opportunity. Way to go, Lucy! 💚👏
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¡Felicitaciones a nuestra estudiante de doctorado, Lucy Agbo, por haber sido aceptada en el 2026 ASHA Student Leadership Program (MSLP)! 🎉

El MSLP es un programa de liderazgo de seis días que se lleva a cabo durante la Convención de ASHA y reúne a futuros líderes de las ciencias y trastornos de la comunicación para fortalecer sus habilidades de liderazgo, conectarse con profesionales y otros estudiantes, y conocer más sobre ASHA y las profesiones.

Estamos muy emocionados de que Lucy represente a nuestro laboratorio y participe en esta increíble oportunidad. ¡Felicidades, Lucy! 💚👏

Congratulations to our PhD student, Lucy Agbo, on her acceptance into the 2026 ASHA Student Leadership Program (MSLP)! 🎉...
09/03/2026

Congratulations to our PhD student, Lucy Agbo, on her acceptance into the 2026 ASHA Student Leadership Program (MSLP)! 🎉

The MSLP is a six-day leadership program held during the ASHA Convention that brings together emerging leaders in communication sciences and disorders to strengthen their leadership skills, connect with professionals and fellow students, and learn more about ASHA and the professions.

We are so excited for Lucy to represent our lab and take part in this incredible opportunity. Way to go, Lucy! 💚
_________________________________________________

¡Felicitaciones a nuestra estudiante de doctorado, Lucy Agbo, por haber sido aceptada en el 2026 ASHA Student Leadership Program (MSLP)! 🎉

El MSLP es un programa de liderazgo de seis días que se lleva a cabo durante la Convención de ASHA y reúne a futuros líderes de las ciencias y trastornos de la comunicación para fortalecer sus habilidades de liderazgo, conectarse con profesionales y otros estudiantes, y conocer más sobre ASHA y las profesiones.

Estamos muy emocionados de que Lucy represente a nuestro laboratorio y participe en esta increíble oportunidad. ¡Felicidades, Lucy! 💚

📖 Weekly Recommendation!This week’s research article recommendation is “Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Predictors of R...
08/07/2026

📖 Weekly Recommendation!

This week’s research article recommendation is “Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Predictors of Reading Comprehension in Monolingual English and Spanish–English Bilingual Sixth Graders.”

This study examines which early language and literacy measures can help predict sixth-grade reading comprehension outcomes for monolingual English and Spanish–English bilingual students. The findings highlight the importance of early identification and intervention for children at risk of future reading difficulties. 📚✨
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📖 ¡Recomendación de la semana!

El artículo de investigación recomendado esta semana es “Predictores en prekindergarten y kindergarten de la comprensión lectora en estudiantes monolingües de inglés y bilingües español-inglés de sexto grado.”

Este estudio analiza qué medidas tempranas del lenguaje y la alfabetización pueden ayudar a predecir el desempeño en comprensión lectora en sexto grado de estudiantes monolingües de inglés y bilingües español-inglés. Los resultados destacan la importancia de la identificación e intervención tempranas en niños con riesgo de presentar futuras dificultades de lectura. 📚✨

🎉 Congratulations to our visiting undergraduate student, Ava De La Cruz, on presenting her summer research at the OneUSF...
07/29/2026

🎉 Congratulations to our visiting undergraduate student, Ava De La Cruz, on presenting her summer research at the OneUSF Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium!

This summer, Ava developed and presented “Digitizing an Assessment Protocol to Screen Bilingual Children for Developmental Language Disorder Risk” under the mentorship of Dr. Laida Restrepo, with guidance from our PhD student Anna Soares. Throughout her time in the BiLL Lab, Ava impressed us with her curiosity, dedication, and outstanding work ethic, making her a wonderful addition to our team. ✨

We are so proud of all that you’ve accomplished this summer, Ava, and can’t wait to see what comes next! 💚🤘


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🎉 ¡Felicitaciones a nuestra estudiante visitante de pregrado, Ava De La Cruz, por presentar su investigación de verano en el OneUSF Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium!

Este verano, Ava desarrolló y presentó el estudio “Digitizing an Assessment Protocol to Screen Bilingual Children for Developmental Language Disorder Risk” bajo la mentoría de la Dra. Laida Restrepo, con el acompañamiento de nuestra estudiante de doctorado Anna Soares. Durante su tiempo en el BiLL Lab, Ava nos impresionó con su curiosidad, dedicación y excelente ética de trabajo, convirtiéndose en una valiosa integrante de nuestro equipo. ✨

¡Estamos muy orgullosos de todo lo que lograste este verano, Ava, y estamos ansiosos por ver todo lo que viene para ti! 💚🤘

📚✨ On July 10, our lab joined the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County for its annual Back-to-School event! Our PhD s...
07/21/2026

📚✨ On July 10, our lab joined the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County for its annual Back-to-School event! Our PhD student, Anna Soares, and two of our undergraduate students, Aldo Dimiele from USF and Ava De La Cruz, a visiting student from Denison University, showcased our lab and the projects we lead in support of the Spanish-English bilingual community.

Families enjoyed free backpacks and school supplies, along with games, dance contests, cotton candy, and more, all in celebration of the Hispanic community and a joyful start to the school year. 💛🎒


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📚✨ ¡El 10 de julio, nuestro laboratorio participó en el evento anual de regreso a clases organizado por el Children’s Board del Condado de Hillsborough! Nuestra estudiante de doctorado, Anna Soares, y dos de nuestros estudiantes de pregrado, Aldo Dimiele, de USF, y Ava De La Cruz, estudiante visitante de Denison University, presentaron nuestro laboratorio y los proyectos que desarrollamos al servicio de la comunidad hispanohablante e inglés-español.

Las familias disfrutaron de mochilas y útiles escolares gratuitos, además de juegos, concursos de baile, algodón de azúcar y mucho más, todo en celebración de la comunidad hispana y de un alegre comienzo del año escolar. 💛🎒

📖 Weekly Recommendation!This week’s research article recommendation is “Misclassification of Emergent Bilinguals: Diagno...
07/12/2026

📖 Weekly Recommendation!

This week’s research article recommendation is “Misclassification of Emergent Bilinguals: Diagnostic Profiles and Policy Action for Speech-Language Pathologists.”

Our professor and Lab Director, Dr. Laida Restrepo, is a co-author of this clinical focus article examining the need for early identification and accurate differentiation of emergent bilingual kindergarteners. The article highlights the importance of determining whether each child is an English learner, a student with developmental language disorder (DLD), both, or neither. The authors discuss how educational policies and clinical practices may contribute to the misclassification of bilingual students and emphasize the importance of speech-language screening in kindergarten. They also call for state- and district-level policy changes to ensure that bilingual children’s language and educational needs are identified and supported appropriately. 📚✨

Read the full article here:
https://doi.org/10.1044/2026_LSHSS-25-00006 ✨

As June comes to a close, our lab is reflecting on a great experience at SRCLD 2026! ✨From June 4–6, our lab had the opp...
06/29/2026

As June comes to a close, our lab is reflecting on a great experience at SRCLD 2026! ✨

From June 4–6, our lab had the opportunity to present collaborative research at the Symposium on Research in Child Language Disorders, together with colleagues from the University of Maryland, Old Dominion University, and Arizona State University. 📊

We were especially grateful to have our lab director, Dr. Restrepo, there with us to support and celebrate this important work in bilingual language development. Swipe to see highlights from our presentations and collaborations at SRCLD 2026! 🎓

Congratulations to everyone involved! ✨
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Con junio a punto de terminar, ¡nuestro equipo recuerda la maravillosa experiencia que fue asistir a SRCLD 2026! ✨

Del 4 al 6 de junio, nuestro laboratorio tuvo la gran oportunidad de compartir nuestro trabajo en el Symposium on Research in Child Language Disorders, en conjunto con colegas de University of Maryland, Old Dominion University y Arizona State University. 📊

Estamos especialmente agradecidos con la directora del laboratorio, la Doctora Restrepo, por acompañarnos, dándonos su apoyo y celebrando este gran momento para el desarrollo del lenguaje bilingüe. ¡Desliza para ver los highlights de nuestra presentación y nuestra colaboración en SRCLD 2026! 🎓

¡Felicidades a todos los participantes! ✨

Celebrating a special milestone! ✨Anna Soares, our 2nd year PhD Student, was nominated the 2026 Student Employee of the ...
05/01/2026

Celebrating a special milestone! ✨

Anna Soares, our 2nd year PhD Student, was nominated the 2026 Student Employee of the Year (SEOTY) at the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences at USF! 🎉

We’re so proud of her work supporting bilingual children, mentoring students, and contributing to our lab community. Way to go, Anna! 💛
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¡Celebrando un logro especial! ✨

Anna Soares, nuestra estudiante de doctorado de segundo año, fue nominada Student Employee of the Year (SEOTY) 2026 en el College of Behavioral and Community Sciences de la USF. 🎉

Estamos muy orgullosos de su trabajo apoyando a niños bilingües, guiando a estudiantes y contribuyendo a nuestra comunidad de laboratorio. ¡Muy bien hecho, Anna! 💛

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Tampa, FL
33620

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