This month, we are delighted to introduce Dr. Ji Young Choi (choi.1893@osu.edu), an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Sciences, , College of Education and Human Ecology, at The Ohio State University.
What drew you to do work on a topic that is important to you now? Any particular advice or tips to someone starting out in the field who is doing work in your area?
One of my primary research interests centers around how dual language learners (DLLs) develop and learn, and how we can enhance support for linguistically diverse children in early childhood education settings. As a mother of two beautiful children being raised as DLLs, this research topic is deeply personal to me. For a long time, both the research and practitioner communities held the misconception that DLLs were at risk in their development, believing that learning two languages would cognitively overload young children. However, the current understanding in the field is that DLLs have the developmental potential to excel, sometimes even surpassing monolinguals when provided with appropriate learning environments. My research agenda focuses on understanding the learning environments that support DLLs in reaching their full developmental potential.
I am fortunate to have mentors, friend-lleagues (colleagues who are also friends), and mentees who share both professional and personal life events and challenges. While these relationships often form unintentionally, having them is a blessing—they bring new perspectives and joy to work, adding profound meaning to work life. One piece of advice I have for new scholars is to value long-term relationships with your academic family—according to my mentors, such relationships can easily last for decades!
A short paragraph describing a particular recent finding, current study, or recent publication and what makes you excited about it.
Together with my advisee and colleague, I recently published a paper comparing the language exposure and use of DLLs and English monolinguals in their preschool classrooms. Our study found that while DLLs talked as much as English monolinguals, DLLs were exposed to less adult talk than English monolinguals during typical preschool days. We also found that teachers were less verbally engaged in child-initiated conversations compared to teacher-initiated ones, especially when conversing with DLLs. These findings indicate the importance of fostering linguistically equitable environments for DLLs. This research was made possible by the SRCD Small Grant for Early Career Scholars program and was published in Infant and Child Development.
Your reflections on your interactions with the Asian Caucus would be highly appreciated. Please feel free to share your thoughts, whether it’s a simple message for the Caucus community or more.
The SRCD Asian Caucus offers a supportive environment for connecting with fellow scholars and mentors, and I am grateful to be a part of it!
Any upcoming talks or presentations we should know about?
I regularly present my work at SRCD, NRCEC, and AERA. I look forward to connecting with members of the Asian Caucus at these events.
What is your preferred contact email?
A weblink you prefer to share?