Victor Kuperman is Professor of Linguistics and Languages and Canada Research Chair in Psycholinguistics at McMaster University.
Forty percent of the Canadian workforce does not have sufficient foundational literacy skills to meet the technological demands of today’s rapidly changing economy, with this percentage even higher among non-native speakers of English or French.
Kuperman’s research project will leverage linguistic research and language technologies to improve adult educational systems across the country. His project will involve the collection of research data from adults reading in English or French as their first or second language and will be used to train Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to create personalized literacy learning and reading materials that are tailored to an individual’s proficiency and language background.
Internationally recognized for his groundbreaking work in literacy, the cognitive science of reading, eye-movement research, and language learning, Kuperman uses computational and experimental methods to investigate language-related issues of direct social relevance. His research has substantial societal and academic impact that is especially important today, as literacy rates are closely linked not only to personal well-being and employability, but also to increased GDP and productivity in national contexts.
By producing unique, open-access research data and developing innovative pedagogical literacy tools that can be integrated into adult education systems, the project ultimately aims to strengthen foundational literacy skills and drive long-term gains in workforce productivity nationwide.
