Workshop: Bilingualism and the Brain: From Cognitive Advantages to Evidence-Based Practice

Bilingualism and the Brain: From Cognitive Advantages to Evidence-Based Practice
 

Dr. Lilong Xu

School of Modern Languages and Cultures

University of Glasgow
 

June 18, 2026 (Thursday)

12:45 - 14:15 (simple sandwich lunch will be provided)

Rm 401-402, Meng Wah Complex, HKU
Chair: Prof Anthony Kong
 

Abstract:

This workshop examines bilingualism from cognitive and clinical perspectives, linking theoretical insights with emerging empirical evidence. It begins with an overview of the cognitive, linguistic, and social advantages associated with bilingualism, including effects on executive control and language flexibility. The workshop then introduces bilingual aphasia, focusing on how language impairment manifests in bilingual speakers and the theoretical challenges it raises for language representation, assessment, and treatment. The final section presents a pilot study on bilingual aphasia treatment, illustrating research design and preliminary observations on cross-language effects. Together, the workshop offers a research-informed perspective on bilingualism across typical and impaired language systems.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

- Summarize major cognitive and linguistic advantages of bilingualism

- Identify key characteristics and challenges of bilingual aphasia

- Critically evaluate preliminary findings and methodological issues in bilingual aphasia research
 

About the speaker:

Dr. Lilong Xu is a Lecturer in Chinese in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at the University of Glasgow. She received her PhD in Chinese Linguistics and Language Acquisition from the University of Cambridge. She holds a BA in English and Mathematics and an MA in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Before joining the University of Glasgow, she was a Postdoctoral Researcher at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Dr. Xu’s research focuses on bilingualism and bidialectalism, language processing, and language-related wellbeing, with particular attention to Chinese and cross-linguistic perspectives.
 

~ All are welcome ~
Seats are limited at a first come first served basis.