Wahad-Shtaim-Three – Cross-linguistic Influences in L3 processing

In this large scale endeavor, funded by the Israeli Science Foundation, we study trilingual university students, and ask how their L1 (Arabic) and/or their L2 (Hebrew) influence their L3 (English) processing. In this unique research we are concurrently examining the language domains of phonology, lexicon and grammar, to achieve a complex and multifaceted understanding. This research is in collaboration with Prof. Tamar Degani

Working on this project:  Razan, Mariana, Nawras, Ronald, Tal Norman (alumnus)

Publications: Elias et al., 2025; Abbas et al., 2021, Norman et al., 2025

Literacy and language profiles of language minority children

We study the language and literacy achievements of kindergarten and elementary school Israeli-born children who use a language other than Hebrew at home (about 20% of the student population). We found that language minority students have significant gaps in vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension, which are basic skills necessary for all aspects of academic achievement. Importantly, group differences were smaller in terms of children’s knowledge of the linguistic regularities of Hebrew, but these still impact literacy achievements, especially in the deep Hebrew orthography. This research is supported by the Edmond J. Safra Center’s longitudinal study.

Working on this project: Daphna Shahar-Yames, Tamar Michaly, Gal Pedael, Liran Kilim, Gili Stolarski

Publications: Shahar-Yames (3 papers); Michaly (2 papers)

Sources of variability in studying English as a foreign language

Mastering English is a major goal in the Israeli education system, as it is key for academic, and later vocational success. In our lab we are focusing on the Israeli context, with goal of revealing general mechanisms of learning in children and adults, as well as the unique characteristics of learning English for native speakers of Hebrew and Arabic.

People: Rana Sammour, Lilach Temelman Yogev, Shimon Pruss, Hadar Aharoni, Liron Tenenbaum

Publications: Sammour (2), Temelman (2), Pruss (1)

Cross-domain links between bilingualism and cognition

Our goal here is to contribute to the characterization of the full range of reciprocal influences between language and the cognitive system, broadly defined, specifically in multilinguals, as a key to understanding the human capacity of language. This includes effects of sleep on language learning, the role of executive functions in language learning and processing (funded by an NSF-BSF grant, held jointly with Prof. Tamar Gollan, UCSD and with Prof. Tamar Degani, from the University of Haifa.

People: Nadowa Ghanayem, Rozan Salameh, Tehila Maloul (alumni: Amir Grosvirt, Tair Siegelman, Lihi Charcon)