Both languages
Spanish is not treated as a bridge to discard. Children get opportunities to learn and respond in Spanish and English.
Computer-Assisted Bilingual
Vocabulary Intervention
NIH/NIDCD-supported research
Supporting the way bilingual children communicate everyday.
CABVI uses technology to help bring Spanish and English vocabulary support into early learning, including settings where the clinician does not speak Spanish.
Designed around people.
Supported by technology.
Built for real learning communities
ChildrenFamiliesCliniciansEducators
What CABVI is
Technology should widen access, not replace people.
Computer-Assisted Bilingual Vocabulary Intervention (CABVI) is a clinician-guided framework for providing vocabulary and language intervention in two languages through computing devices, including the responsible use of artificial intelligence. Grounded in evidence-based practice for bilingual children, CABVI supports the development and use of both languages in children with language disorders.
The framework combines direct teaching of preselected target words, shared book reading, and structured receptive and expressive language activities delivered individually or in small groups. CABVI is designed to address language mismatches between clinicians and children while supporting bilingual children’s communication, use of their full linguistic repertoires, and active participation.
Continued practice across activities and settings helps consolidate learning, strengthen semantic networks, deepen word knowledge, and support generalization.
Adult-guided learning
Clinicians and educators stay at the center of instruction. CABVI adds bilingual support to the work they already do.
Practice with purpose
Stories, repeated exposure, child-friendly definitions, and active word use make vocabulary learning concrete.
How CABVI works
One shared experience. Three connected parts.
CABVI is used with an adult, not handed to a child as passive screen time.
- 1Listen
Bilingual audio introduces target words and supports access to Spanish.
- 2Read together
Interactive stories put new vocabulary into meaningful contexts.
- 3Practice and respond
Word-focused activities invite children to recognize, name, and explain.
Early preview
Expressive component
Meet Pío and Ceci.
CABVI is exploring an AI-supported speech-to-speech experience for expressive vocabulary practice. Pío and Ceci are being designed to invite children to say, explain, and use words in Spanish and English while a clinician or educator guides the activity.
What the early research found
Promising results. Careful next steps.
In a preliminary study with 21 Spanish-speaking preschoolers, bilingual CABVI supported target Spanish vocabulary across receptive, naming, and definition tasks. Both CABVI groups showed comparable English gains, and gains in both languages were maintained at a six-week follow-up.
Read the peer-reviewed studyStudy at a glance
- 21
- Spanish-speaking preschoolers
- 37
- target words
- 3
- study conditions
- 6 weeks
- follow-up period
The next chapter
Five years of CABVI research, supported by NIH/NIDCD.
A projected $2.72 million research project is expanding CABVI work with young children from preschool through first grade. The team is studying how bilingual technology can support vocabulary learning and help address the shortage of bilingual service providers.
The people behind the project
Research grows through community.
CABVI is led by Jean Franco Rivera Pérez, PhD, CCC-SLP, with Emily Lund, PhD, CCC-SLP, and a growing team of students, professionals, families, and school and community partners. Together, we are part of the BEAR Lab.
Follow the work as it takes shape