I graduated from Saint-Joseph University of Beirut (Lebanon) as a speech and language therapist. I have completed my master’s degree in psycholinguistics and neurosciences at François-Rabelais University of Tours (France). I am currently a PhD student in Communication and Language Sciences at Newcastle University. My research explores key drivers of individual differences in the language development of 3 year-old Lebanese children.
Language development in the early years is a vital pillar for children’s developmental outcomes. Across the first 5 years of life, most children develop their language skills effortlessly but not necessarily in the same way. Different pathways into language provide clues about possible internal and environmental drivers to individual language outcomes in children. In particular, the quality of children’s early learning environment, in association with biological and socioeconomic indicators has shown strong links with language skills and later academic success. Yet, little is known about how these factors play out in a non-Western, multilingual context.
My study aims to fill this gap by defining context-specific environmental and structural factors that are relevant to the diverse Lebanese context and then examining any potential associations between these factors and early language development. This will enable Early Years professionals working with children in Lebanon and the rest of the world to identify early risk and protective indicators associated with language skills and support the design of preventive efficient interventions that promote early language development.
