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Mother Tongue Languages Symposium (MTLS)

Shaping Early Bilingualism through Conversational Practices at home

Shaping Early Bilingualism through Conversational Practices at home

Dr Yvonne Tse Crepaldi

Dr Yvonne Tse Crepaldi
Assistant Professor
Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Profile

Dr Yvonne Tse Crepaldi is an Assistant Professor in Applied Linguistics at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), China. She obtained her PhD from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and subsequently worked as a research fellow at NTU and the National Institute of Education (NIE). Her research focuses on multilingualism, parent-child interaction, and healthcare communication, using conversation analysis and ethnography to examine how interaction shapes language use and relationships. Yvonne has published in international journals, including the Journal of Pragmatics, Current Issues in Language Planning, and Research on Children and Social Interaction. She is also a recipient of the Lee Kuan Yew Fund for Bilingualism (LKYFB) for a science communication project, Raising Bilingual Babies in Talk (RaBBiT).

Synopsis

Designed for parents, caregivers, and educators of babies and toddlers who are beginning to communicate, this session explores Family Language Policy (FLP) and bilingual communicative strategies. Drawing on real-life conversations, participants will examine how these strategies function in early talk and reflect on the outcomes of various practices, considering which interactional choices best align with their values and aspirations. The session will also touch on how these dynamics shift as children grow older and become more aware of others' language repertoires. Rather than prescribing a single correct approach, participants will leave with research-based ideas and tools to help them and their children navigate their bilingual journey with joy.

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