USC education professor Yang Wang conducted a longitudinal case study of her American-born daughter, CoCo Li, from ages 5 to 8 to learn how the youngster navigates learning three languages in tandem and what bilingual literacy means to her. 

• Wang’s findings over those four years offer deep insights into the lives and literacy development of bilingual and multilingual children. 

Why it matters
An estimated 22 percent of the U.S. population speak a language other than English in the home. About 7.5 percent of SC residents speak a language other than English at home.

• It is critical that educators collaborate with parents in supporting their bilingual children’s literacy development.
• Bilingual individuals receive many cognitive benefits, including flexibility as well as improved executive skills such as creativity and problem-solving.

Multilingual speakers make important cultural connections and often identify as global citizens. 

What they're saying

“Children pick up languages so fast. I learned English after I developed my first language literacy (in my native Mandarin). Synchronized language learning is like a gift I can give to my daughter.” —Yang Wang 

“I want to teach other people Chinese. It is never too late to learn, read and write a new language, as well as knowing its culture. We can do amazing things together.” — CoCo Li (from her journal) 

Ask the teacher

To interview Wang about her research, contact Kristine Hartvigsen, hartvigk@mailbox.sc.edu.