Acquire knowledge on a theoretical level about development in conditions of bilingualism in multicultural contexts.
Learn useful strategies for reconstructing the bilingual linguistic anamnesis (structured interviews and questionnaires).
Know the risk indicators and exclusion factors in detecting conditions attributable to the presence or absence of specific disturbance.
To assimilate information on separate assessment tools for the bilingual population.
Identify operational procedures for the diagnosis of primary language disorders and specific learning disorders in bilingual children of preschool and school age.

Competence in the main theoretical models of Developmental Psychology and the related evolutionary processes of language and communication learning.

Definitions and types of bilingualism
Different cultural and linguistic backgrounds
Problems related to languages
Advantages of bilingualism
Socio-economic status
Relationship between bilingualism and social status
Evolutionary trajectories of language development in the bilingual preschool child
Trajectories and learning difficulties/disabilities in bilingual children
DSA guidelines 2022 in bilingual children
Direct and indirect assessment protocols and tools specific for the bilingual population

"Il cervello bilingue. La neuroscienza del linguaggio"
A. Costa (2023)
Hogrefe, Firenze

"Multilinguismo. Contesti educativi e clinici"
M.T. Gusti, D. Carioti, F. Costa e S. Silleresi (2023) Carocci editore e Studi Superiori, Roma

“Valutazione e presa in carico di bambini figli di migranti. Metodi e strumenti per l'identificazione di uno sviluppo atipico del linguaggio in età prescolare”
P. Rinaldi, M. C. Caselli (2024)
Erickson, Trento
“Il Bilinguismo” A. Marini (2025) Carocci editore, Roma
“La comunicazione interculturale nell’era digitale” C. Giaccardi (2025) il Mulino, Bologna

Historical overview of the definitions of bilingualism and types of bilingualism.
Follows a brief discussion about the bilingual advantage and the relationship between bilingualism and socio-economic status.
The developmental trajectories of linguistic development in the bilingual preschool child and the trajectories and learning difficulties/disabilities in bilingual children in multicultural contexts will be addressed.

Lectures with power-point presentations

Direct and indirect assessment protocols and tools specific for the bilingual population and clinical diagnosis will be examined

Exercise