Young Children's Language Research Articles

A cross-linguistic examination of young children's everyday language experiences.

We present an exploratory cross-linguistic analysis of the quantity of target-child-directed speech and adult-directed speech in North American English (US & Canadian), United Kingdom English, Argentinian Spanish, Tseltal (Tenejapa, Mayan), and Yélî Dnye (Rossel Island, Papuan), using annotations from 69 children aged 2-36 months. Using a novel methodological approach, our cross-linguistic and cross-cultural findings support prior work suggesting that target-child-directed speech quantities are stable across early development, while adult-directed speech decreases. A preponderance of speech from women was found to a similar degree across groups, with less target-child-directed speech from men and children in the North American samples than elsewhere. Consistently across groups, children also heard more adult-directed than target-child-directed speech. Finally, the numbers of talkers present in any given clip strongly impacted children's moment-to-moment input quantities. These findings illustrate how the structure of home life impacts patterns of early language exposure across diverse developmental contexts.

Short versions of the Basque MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (children aged 8–50 months)

This study provides a brief review of the adaptation of the short MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (CDI) instruments into Basque. The study aims to provide the scientific community with several standardized instruments designed to measure the vocabulary size of young children (aged 8–50 months) who are learning Basque, a language spoken in Spain and France. Data from over 2,400 children, obtained using the Basque adaptations of the short CDI parental questionnaires, the BCDI-1s(hort), BCDI-2s, and BCDI-3, revealed the capacity of these instruments to identify the effect of age on the language development of preschool-age children exposed to this language, as has been attested in other (minority and non-minority) languages. The study also examined the effect size of age, sex, and language input. The results showed that sex had a null or very small effect on both lexical development and the rest of the scales, whereas the effect of language input increased as children grew older and was even stronger than the effect of age from 30 months onwards. These findings provide solid ground for discussing the relevance of various factors that affect young children's language acquisition.

Evaluating the accuracy of automated processing of child and adult language production in preschool classrooms.

Young children's language and social development is influenced by the linguistic environment of their classrooms, including their interactions with teachers and peers. Measurement of the classroom linguistic environment typically relies on observational methods, often providing limited 'snapshots' of children's interactions, from which broad generalizations are made. Recent technological advances, including artificial intelligence, provide opportunities to capture children's interactions using continuous recordings representing much longer durations of time. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the accuracy of the Interaction Detection in Early Childhood Settings (IDEAS) system on 13 automated indices of language output using recordings collected from 19 children and three teachers over two weeks in an urban preschool classroom. The accuracy of language outputs processed via IDEAS were compared to ground truth via linear correlations and median absolute relative error. Findings indicate high correlations between IDEAS and ground truth data on measures of teacher and child speech, and relatively low error rates on the majority of IDEAS language output measures. Study findings indicate that IDEAS may provide a useful measurement tool for advancing knowledge about children's classroom experiences and their role in shaping development.

Complementary food exposure and children's early understanding of food words: the approaching eating through language (APPEAL) study.

Language skills, such as the ability to understand words (receptive language), develop during infancy and are built through interactions with the environment, including eating. Exposure to complementary foods also begins in infancy and may play a significant role in language development, especially in understanding of food-related words. However, the relationship between the complementary foods to which a child is exposed and early language acquisition has not been previously studied. We hypothesized that young children's food-related receptive language (FRL) would reflect the complementary foods to which they were frequently offered by caregivers. Caregivers of young children (4-26 months; n = 408) in the Approaching Eating through Language (APPEAL) Study in the US were surveyed via Qualtrics. FRL was assessed by caregiver-report via a modified MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory. Complementary foods offered (CFO) by caregivers were assessed using a modified Food Frequency Questionnaire. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was implemented to identify, 1) groupings of foods frequently offered (>1x/week) and 2) groupings of food-related words understood by the young children. A 5-class best fit LCA model was identified for CFO (-log likelihood [-llik]=-8727) and for FRL (-llik=-5476). Cross-classification of the CFO and FRL derived classes revealed that children with higher exposure to complementary foods were perceived by caregivers to be most likely to also understand a greater number of food-related words (Probability=0.48). As expected, children having been offered a greater number of complementary foods and who understood a greater number of food-related words were older, compared to those with less complementary food exposure and food-related language acquisition (p < 0.001). These findings support the potential role of introduction to complementary foods in development of food-related language.

Transdiagnostic considerations are critical to understanding childhood neurodevelopmental disorders.

Growing dissatisfaction with the current categorical diagnostic systems has led to a movement toward transdiagnostic dimensional approaches to assessment of childhood mental health disorders. We argue that a transdiagnostic approach is especially important and appropriate when screening for neurodevelopmental disorders during early childhood. In the early childhood years, symptoms often appear in the form of developmental delays that could portend a variety of different disorders. Early intervention at this point is critical, even though a final endpoint disorder is not yet apparent. Intervening early has the potential to grow the area of weakness, possibly correcting or at least ameliorating these delays. Early intervention requires a multidisciplinary approach integrating efforts across settings and providers that monitor the development of young children. We argue here that young children's language ability is central to the development of social cognition, and a prerequisite for adequate social functioning. Social deficits are defining features of a subset of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and social (pragmatic) communication disorder. Critically, impairment in social functioning is common in additional neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disorders, and even motor disorders. For this reason, we argue that, at the earliest sign of a possible neurodevelopmental disorder, children should be screened for language deficits prior to initiating a focused assessment for a specific type of neurodevelopmental disorder such as ADHD. Any detected language deficits should be considered in the design and implementation of the assessment, as well as the ultimate intervention plan.

The Effect of Self-Efficacy on Digital Reading Platforms on Early Childhood English Language Development

Early childhood education is crucial in laying a solid foundation for children's language and literacy development. In an era where digital technology is increasingly pervasive in daily life, it is important to understand how digital reading platforms can influence young children's language development. This study aims to explore the relationship between children's self-efficacy in using digital reading platforms and their English language development. Qualitative research methods were employed, collecting data through participatory observation and interviews with parents and early childhood educators. The research sample consisted of 30 children (aged 4-6 years) who regularly use digital reading platforms in formal and informal learning environments. The results indicate a positive correlation between children's self-efficacy levels in digital reading platforms and their progress in understanding and using English. The practical implications of this research emphasize the importance of strengthening children's self-efficacy and selecting appropriate digital reading platforms to support young children's language and literacy development. This study provides valuable insights for educators, parents, and educational technology developers in designing effective learning strategies for young children in the digital age.

Teacher perceptions of parent collaboration in multi-ethnic ECEC settings

IntroductionFor teachers working in multi-ethnic early childhood education and care settings, a strong collaboration with parents may be an important mechanism for supporting young children's language development. However, little research has investigated how teachers perceive their communication with parents from diverse backgrounds and what centre-level factors predict the quality of teacher-parent collaboration.MethodsThis study sought to explore teacher-parent collaboration within early childhood education and care in urban multi-ethnic areas of Norway, using survey data from 266 teachers across 56 centres and 198 classrooms. We examined whether teacher characteristics (education, experience and self-efficacy) and centre linguistic diversity were related to teacher perceived communication with parents regarding ways of supporting children's dual language development and teacher experienced challenges in parent collaboration.ResultsResults revealed that teachers with higher self-efficacy communicated more with parents and experienced less challenges in collaboration with them. Furthermore, more experienced teachers working in more linguistically diverse centres identified more challenges in parent collaboration, while these characteristics were not related to communication. Teacher education was not associated with communication nor challenges in parent collaboration.DiscussionOur results indicate that professional development measures targeted at strengthening teacher self-efficacy might be an important mechanism to promote parent collaboration, particularly in multi-ethnic education settings.

Screen Time and Parent-Child Talk When Children Are Aged 12 to 36 Months

Growing up in a language-rich home environment is important for children's language development in the early years. The concept of "technoference" (technology-based interference) suggests that screen time may be interfering with opportunities for talk and interactions between parent and child; however, limited longitudinal evidence exists exploring this association. To investigate the longitudinal association between screen time and 3 measures of parent-child talk (adult words, child vocalizations, and conversational turns) when children are 12 to 36 months of age. This Australian prospective cohort study used advanced speech recognition technology to capture young children's screen time and home language environment, on an average 16-hour day. Data were collected from 220 families once every 6 months in the family home when children were 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months of age, from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2021. Statistical analysis took place from November 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023. Language Environment Analysis (LENA) technology provided automated counts of children's language environment and exposure to electronic noise. The exposure of interest was screen time, which was calculated based on manual coding of LENA electronic noise audio segments. Three measures of parent-child talk were outcomes of focus: adult words, child vocalizations, and conversational turns. Separate models were run for each of the 3 outcomes and included adjustment for child sex, child age, maternal educational level, number of children at home, number of home activities, and primary caregiver's psychological distress. The study included 220 families (120 girls [54.6%]; mean [SD] gestational age of children, 39.3 [1.5] weeks; mean [SD] age of mother at childbirth, 31.3 [4.8] years). Adjusted linear mixed-effect models demonstrated that increases in screen time were associated with decreases in measures of parent-child talk. The largest decreases were seen at 36 months, when an additional minute of screen time was associated with a reduction of 6.6 (95% CI, -11.7 to -1.5) adult words, 4.9 (95% CI, -6.1 to -3.7) child vocalizations, and 1.1 (95% CI, -1.4 to -0.8) conversational turns. Findings of this study support the notion of technoference for Australian families, whereby young children's exposure to screen time is interfering with opportunities to talk and interact in their home environment. This finding has implications for interventions and supports aimed at promoting a language-rich home environment, with families needing support in understanding the potential association of screen time with opportunities for children and adults to talk and interact in their home environment.

Effects of dialogic reading elements on children's language development

BackgroundDialogic reading (DR) is an effective shared reading technique based on the prompts–evaluate–expand–repeat (PEER) sequence, which fosters children's language development. This study examines the effects of its elements by comparing shared reading with prompts with minimal feedback (PMF) and PEER.MethodsThis study included 364 typically developing Chinese kindergarteners and used a randomised control trial design. The children and their parents were divided into three groups, namely, the PMF, PEER and control groups. The children were pre‐ and post‐tested on their language skills and reading interest measures before and after the intervention.ResultsResults showed that after a 12‐week intervention, the children in the PMF group outperformed those in the control group in terms of receptive vocabulary, character reading and listening comprehension. Meanwhile, the children in the PEER group outperformed those in the PMF and control groups not only in terms of the above measures but also in their expressive vocabulary and reading interest.ConclusionsThese results highlight the contribution of parents' questions and the additional benefits of their systematically corrective feedback on kindergarten children's language and reading interest development. This study supports the literature on cognitive engagement theory related to young children's individual language and reading interest development through interactive parent–child DR activities.

Exploring The Effects of English as a Foreign Language on First Language Development of Young Children: The Case of Greece

This study meticulously investigates the interplay between Early Second Language Acquisition (ESLA) and the potential emergence of first language disorders in the unique context of Greece. Embedded in the Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST) paradigm, it aims to untangle existing ambiguities and explore implications for Greek society and education. Employing a Concurrent Mixed Methods Approach, the study attempts to unveil the intricate impacts of ESLA on First Language Development (FLD).Grounded in CDST's framework emphasizing linguistic system complexity, and interconnectedness, the research design employs a Descriptive Exploratory orientation through a Case Study Methodology. This facilitates comprehensive research into two cohorts of children aged four, representing monolingual Greek kindergartens (Cohort A) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL)-focused kindergartens (Cohort B).The research inquiries delve into multifaceted language development aspects amidst intricate linguistic dynamics. This involves nuanced analysis of potential performance disparities in the primary language pre- and post-interventions in early foreign language pedagogy, meticulous comparative assessment of both cohorts, and insightful exploration of EFL's implications on young children's nascent language development.Methodologically, data collection employs a language development assessment tool (Logometro®). The collection of both quantitative and qualitative data in this study is contingent upon the application of the Logometro® language assessment instrument. Thematic Analysis shapes the qualitative corpus, complemented by statistical analyses for quantitative data.Anticipated outcomes aim to enhance understanding among Greek educational authorities and the scientific community about intricate, adaptive ESLA impacts on FLD. Findings could influence enduring, impactful EFL policies shaped by Greek authorities. Overall, the research deepens comprehension of latent consequences tied to ESLA's effects on FLD, set within Greece’s intricate context. Nested within CDST's theoretical framework, the amalgamation of research methodology and insights provides a robust foundation for future inquiries and invaluable guidance for policymakers navigating English language education decisions among young learners.

Effects of online parent coaching on Filipino children's skills

Technology today can possibly help make early childhood interventions more accessible to young children in need. In the present study, we conducted all assessment and training of both parents and children entirely online to examine the effectiveness of an online parental coaching programme in facilitating young Filipino children's language, literacy, and numeracy skills. Ninety-four families with 3-to 5-year-old Cebuano-speaking children were randomly assigned into either the intervention group or a waitlist control group. The 13-week long online intervention group showed significant improvement in their receptive vocabulary, syllable matching, letter name knowledge, numeral identification, object counting, rote counting, missing number identification, numerical magnitude comparison and addition skills but not in their expressive vocabulary and syllable deletion relative to the waitlist control group. No moderation effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on the online intervention outcome was found. For the intervention group, a main effect for parental involvement on rote counting, missing number identification, and addition was found, with higher levels of participation in the coaching programme translating to greater gains. The present study underscores the validity and feasibility of an online format of intervention and assessment procedure, in a low-to-middle-income country context (LMIC). The current findings demonstrate the possible added benefits of an online intervention format and the importance of an integrated cross-domains intervention format.

Music-based Language Programme for Preschool Teachers' Training and Lesson delivery: A Pilot Trial

Language delay in preschoolers is linked to learning difficulties and persistent communication issues. Studies show that early music-making positively impacts young children's language development. Music-based Language Programme aims to enhance preschoolers’ language skills by training preschool teachers to deliver quality music lessons with language-focused objectives. This pilot trial aimed to determine the feasibility of teacher training for the programme's delivery. Furthermore, the secondary aim was to evaluate the acceptability of the programme's implementation by stakeholders. Methods: The 6-week one-arm pilot trial took place in Sarawak, Malaysia (October to November 2021). It included preschool visits, parent briefings, teacher training, and music lesson delivery. The participants included teachers (n = 4), preschoolers (n = 11), parents (n = 11), and the principal (n = 1) in a preschool that practiced inclusion. A non-probability-purposive sampling recruitment strategy was employed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The study used a case study mixed methods approach to collect data through reports, observations, group discussions, feedback, questionnaires, and documentation. Results: There was a high rate of participant retention (100%) and completion of data collection tasks (91–100%). Additionally, there was a favourable shift (7–27%) in three teachers' self-efficacy ratings before and after the teacher training and a reasonably high implementation fidelity (87%). There were no adverse events related to the study participants. Conclusion: The study demonstrated promising results across multiple participant levels, as it was perceived to be feasible, acceptable, and appropriate by teachers, preschoolers, the principal, and parents. The findings provided direct implications for the progression of the pilot trial to the full-scale main study.

Implementation of Smart Pop Up Book Media to Improve Read-Write Literacy in Children

Literacy improvement is a crucial task that is carried out in both schools and homes, or lingkungan. This is how the government was informed through the national literary festival. Using interactive media can help with literary event execution. Currently, children are becoming more interested in contemporary media or games like smartphones, tablets, and other devices of that nature. However, if children are not aware of their peers' sex, a variety of media might be harmful to them. Due to this, educators conducted media savvy pop-up book evaluations to promote early literacy in children. The purpose of this paper is to understand how to create a media smart pop-up book program for teaching children to read. Based on the mosque, this study was conducted on children aged 7 to 12 in Buntu Batu, Kecamatan Bastem, Kabupaten Luwu, and Sulawesi Selatan. The current study used a kualitatif deskriptif design for qualitative research. The study's findings are based on the development of young children's language literacy, which can improve when using media such as smart pop-up books during instruction. In light of this, it is evident that media smart pop-up books may be used to teach young children and assist them in developing their reading abilities.

Learning English by Kindergarten Children in Saudi Arabia: A Mothers’ Perspective

In an era where the English language has become dominant in all fields and is the prevailing language worldwide, many Arab parents and intellectuals are wondering about the optimal age to start teaching their children English. Should they speak to their children in English at an early age? Should they enrol their children in a pre-school that teaches English only? What is the effect of teaching English to children in kindergarten on their learning of Arabic and their academic achievement in later stages? This study aimed to survey the opinions of a sample of mothers regarding the teaching of English to young children. The results of interviews with a sample of 300 mothers representing all segments of society showed that 70% of the mothers believe that the best age to teach children English is between four and five years old. 70% prefer to enrol their children in a kindergarten that teaches English, and 50% prefer to use a mix of English and Arabic languages when speaking with their children at home. About 70% believe that teaching English to children at an early age has no negative effect on their learning of Arabic simultaneously and has a positive effect on their academic achievement in later stages of education. The study also revealed some misconceptions among mothers about the optimal age for learning English, the effect of learning English on young children's Arabic language skills and academic achievement, and that the reason weakness of junior and senior high school students in English is due to not studying English at an early age. The researcher reviewed the results of previous studies on children and first and second language acquisition in several countries around the world acquiring a second foreign language alongside their mother tongue, the impact of learning a second language on their learning and acquisition of their mother tongue, academic achievement, and factors that lead to successful foreign language learning.

Assessing pragmatics in early childhood with the Language Use Inventory across seven languages.

The Language Use Inventory (LUI) is a parent-report measure of the pragmatic functions of young children's language, standardized and norm-referenced in English (Canada) for children aged 18-47 months. The unique focus of the LUI, along with its appeal to parents, reliability and validity, and usefulness in both research and clinical contexts has prompted research teams globally to translate and adapt it to other languages. In this review, we describe the original LUI's key features and report on processes used by seven different research teams to translate and adapt it to Arabic, French, Italian, Mandarin, Norwegian, Polish, and Portuguese. We also review data from the studies of the seven translated versions, which indicate that all the LUI versions were reliable and sensitive to developmental changes. The review demonstrates that the LUI, informed by a social-cognitive and functional approach to language development, captures growth in children's language use across a range of linguistic and cultural contexts, and as such, can serve as a valuable tool for clinical and research purposes.

Emotional Regulation and Language in Young Children With and Without Autism Traits

Language ability has been associated with emotion regulation (ER) ability. Children on the autism spectrum have greater rates of language delays and lower ER ability. Despite this, autism traits have not been considered or controlled for in past research. This study therefore examined the association between language ability and ER in young children with and without autism traits. An exploratory analysis was also conducted to examine the types of ER strategies used by young children with autism traits compared with young children without such traits. Ninety mother–toddler dyads participated in the study. Results showed greater receptive language ability was significantly associated with greater parent-reported ER ability both when children with, and children without, autism traits were included in the sample. Furthermore, greater expressive language ability was significantly associated with greater observed ER but only when children with autism traits were excluded from the analysis. These findings have clinical implications for early intervention development for both children with and without autism traits.

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Low SES Kindergarteners' Language Abilities.

Young children's language skills have a significant positive impact on their academic success throughout school, especially on reading and writing performance. The spread of COVID-19, which has resulted in lockdowns, fewer learning hours in kindergarten, and distance learning, might have affected children's exposure to learning opportunities. The aim of the current study was to compare language abilities (vocabulary and morphological awareness) of two groups of low SES kindergarteners, 110 children who attended seven kindergartens before the COVID-19 pandemic, and 54 children who attended eight kindergartens during the COVID-19 pandemic. While both groups followed the same educational program with the same teachers, the pre-COVID-19 group studied in kindergarten before the first wave of COVID-19 restrictions, in 2018-2019, and the mid-COVID-19 group, during the pandemic, in 2020. The results showed that the mid-COVID-19 group of children achieved lower scores on morphological awareness (d = 0.46 to d = 1.19, p = .006 to p < .001), pointing to a negative developmental effect of COVID-19 on young children's language abilities. Educational implications of the results are discussed.

Associations between responsive parental behaviours in infancy and toddlerhood, and language outcomes at age 7 years in a population-based sample.

A wealth of evidence supports the important role high-quality parent-child interactions play in children's early language acquisition. However, the impact on later language outcomes remains unclear. To examine the associations between responsive parental behaviours across the early years and child language outcomes at age 7 years with families from an Australian longitudinal cohort study (N = 1148, 50% female). At child ages 12, 24 and 36 months, parents completed a self-report measure of responsive parental behaviours. Child language was directly assessed at age 7 using the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals, 4th edition (CELF-4), Australian Standardisation. Linear regression was used to examine associations between responsive parental behaviours from 12 to 36 months (consistently high, inconsistent and consistently low responsive parental behaviours at the three time points) and language scores at age 7 years. Adjusted models were run, including the following potential confounders: child sex; birth weight; birth order; maternal education; socio-economic disadvantage; non-English-speaking background; family history of speech-language problems; mother's vocabulary score; maternal mental health score; and mother's age at birth of child. A final adjusted model was run, including the potential confounder variables as well as adjusting for children's earlier language skills. Linear regression results showed children with parents who rated high on responsive parental behaviours at all three time points had higher mean language scores at age 7 than children whose parents reported low responsive parental behaviours across early childhood. This association attenuated after adjusting for earlier child language skills. Findings support the consistent use of responsive parental behaviours across the very early years of childhood to support long-term language outcomes. Findings also suggest that models of surveillance and support which monitor and assist families at multiple time-points over the early years are likely to be most effective for preventing ongoing language difficulties. What is already known on this subject There is extensive evidence consistently demonstrating the important contribution of aspects of parent-child interaction, specifically responsive parental behaviours, to children's language development. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge Understanding the cumulative benefit of responsive parent-child interactions across the very early years may help to inform preventive interventions and service delivery models for supporting young children's language development. This study demonstrates in a large, population-based cohort the contribution of consistency of responsive parental behaviours during infancy and toddlerhood to school-age language outcomes, accounting for other child, family and environmental factors. Capturing regular parent behaviours via self-report during the early years may be a more efficient and less costly method than parent-child interaction observations to monitor the home language-learning environment during routine developmental checks. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Findings support the need for surveillance of children and families in the early years, ensuring that intervention occurs when families need it most, that is, support is responsive to changing needs and that nuanced advice and support strategies are provided to activate positive developmental cascades. Capturing both parent behaviours and child language may assist clinicians to identify those families who may benefit from parent-child interaction intervention.

WPPSI-IV and NEPSY-II performance in mono- and bilingual 5-6-year-old children: Findings from The FinSwed Study.

Children's language background relates to their neurocognitive development. Knowledge of this relationship is important as bilingualism is common. However, research regarding language background in relation to performance on cognitive tests such as the WPPSI-IV and NEPSY-II is scarce. The present study compared WPPSI-IV and NEPSY-II performances between 5- and 6-year-old Swedish-speaking monolingual (n=45) and Swedish-Finnish-speaking simultaneous bilingual (n=34) children in Finland. The participants were gathered by stratified sampling and were assessed with the Swedish versions of the tests. In profile analyses, a significant monolingual advantage was found in some WPPSI-IV subtests and indexes requiring expressive vocabulary (Vocabulary, Similarities, PictureNaming, and Vocabulary Acquisition Index) and visuospatial skills (Object Assembly and Visual Spatial Index). No group differences were found between mono- and bilingual children in receptive language, visual memory, or fluid intelligence. Additionally, no differences were found on the Full Scale IQ. The performance on the WPPSI-IV Similarities subtest improved in a subgroup of bilinguals when answers in both Swedish and Finnish were accounted for, instead of accepting only answers in Swedish. No significant differences were found between mono- and bilinguals on the language and memory tasks of NEPSY-II. These findings highlight the importance of considering the child's language background when assessing expressive language in young children, as well as the benefits of assessing bilinguals in both of their languages.

Teacher language quality in preschool classrooms: Examining associations with DLLs' oral language skills

Teachers’ use of language in the classroom (i.e., teacher talk) can have a positive impact on young children's oral language skills. This study examined the relationship between types of teacher talk and Spanish-English preschool dual language learners’ (DLLs) oral language abilities. Classroom observations were conducted in 64 preschool classrooms serving students from low-income backgrounds with a high number of DLLs (N=401) using the Language Interaction Snapshot. Across classrooms, high quality teacher talk occurred infrequently with few instances of observed responsive and decontextualized language interactions. The most commonly observed types of teacher talk in English included giving directions and contextualized language. Results indicated that teachers’ use of responsive language demonstrated the strongest relationship to DLLs’ English language outcomes, despite its low occurrence in classrooms. Our results suggest the need for increased teacher training on the benefits of high-quality language interactions for children's language development, especially for young DLLs. Training should focus on responsive language strategies that preschool teachers can use when teaching DLLs.