Solutions for the Assessment of Bilinguals

Virginia C. Mueller Gathercole is Professor of Linguistics at Florida International University, Professor of Psychology at Bangor University, and until recently acted as Co-Director of the Centre for Research on Bilingualism in Theory and Practice at Bangor University. Her research focuses on monolingual and bilingual language acquisition, especially in relation to semantics, morpho-syntax and assessment, and the acquisition of English, Spanish, and Welsh in Spanish-English, Welsh-English, and Spanish-Welsh bilinguals. Professor Gathercole is an Associate Editor of First Language and has been working in the field for over 30 years.

This book presents solutions for the evaluation of language abilities and proficiency in multilingual speakers - and by extension, the evaluation of their cognitive and academic abilities. It brings together researchers working in a variety of bilingual settings to discuss critical matters central to the assessment of bilingual children and adults.

1. Virginia C. Mueller Gathercole: Assessment of Bilinguals: Innovative Solutions 2. Fred Genesee, Robert Savage, Caroline Erdos and Corinne Haigh: Identification of Reading Difficulties in Students Schooled in a Second Language 3. Carolyn Ann Letts: What are the Building Blocks for Language Acquisition? Underlying Principles of Assessment for Language Impairment in the Bilingual Context 4. Maria-Jose Ezeizabarrena, Julia Barnes, Inaki Garcia, Andoni Barrena and Margareta Almgren: Using Parental Report Assessment for Bilingual Preschoolers: The Basque Experience 5. Ciara O'Toole: Using Parent Report to Assess Bilingual Vocabulary Acquisition: A Model from Irish 6. Elizabeth D. Pena, Lisa M. Bedore and Christine Fiestas: Development of Bilingual Semantic Norms: Can Two be One? 7. Hans Stadthagen-Gonzalez, Virginia C. Mueller Gathercole, Rocio Perez Tattam, Feryal Yavas: Vocabulary Assessment of Bilingual Adults: To Cognate or Not to Cognate 8. Maria Kambanaros, Kleanthes K. Grohmann: Profiling (Specific) Language Impairment in Bilingual Children: Preliminary Evidence from Cyprus 9. Enlli Mon Thomas, Virginia C. Mueller Gathercole and Emma K. Hughes: Sociolinguistic Influences on the Linguistic Achievement of Bilinguals: Issues for the Assessment of Minority Language Competence 10. Eva Rodriguez-Gonzalez: The Effects of Peer Feedback Practices in Spanish Second Language Writing 11. Erika Hoff: Commentary on Issues in the Assessment of Bilinguals and Solutions for the Assessment of Bilinguals