July 12, 2026
Changing Language Assessment to Fit Discoveries about Social Brain
Matt Lieberman argues that our social brain — not tool-making, culture, or even language itself — is what makes us truly distinct as a species. Once we see language as one of its tools, it becomes easier to ask whether the way we teach and assess language needs to catch up with what neuroscience has discovered.
This session introduces Lieberman's social brain, explores cognitive control as a critical part of language learning, and then moves into breakout rooms to discuss social competencies we might also be assessing — things like turn-taking, clarity of expression, negotiation of meaning, gestures, empathy, synchrony, and creativity.