Bridging Language and Literacy – How Haitian Creole Insights Can Transform English Instruction

At The Indy Learning Team, we believe that literacy is not just a skill but a bridge—between people, cultures, and futures. This belief drives our work with Adira Reads and especially guides how we respond when we partner with schools serving multilingual communities. One of our partner schools, with a large population of Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen) speakers, recently presented a compelling opportunity: How can we honor the linguistic assets of students while also accelerating their acquisition of English literacy?

Our answer came in the form of an Adira Insight—a deep dive into the phonological and structural features of Haitian Creole and how they interact with English instruction. The findings are not only eye-opening but also empowering. They show that language differences don’t need to be obstacles. In fact, when made visible through thoughtful prompts and informed instruction, these differences can unlock deeper understanding and lead to stronger educational outcomes.

Why It Matters

For Haitian Creole speakers, learning to read and write in English comes with a unique set of challenges and strengths. Haitian Creole has a transparent and consistent sound-symbol system, making it highly phonetic. In contrast, English contains a complex web of inconsistent spellings, silent letters, and sounds like /θ/ (“th”) and /h/ that don’t even exist in Haitian Creole. These differences can cause confusion—"think" becomes "tink," "house" becomes "ouse"—but only if they remain hidden or unaddressed.

That’s where Adira Reads comes in.

Insights Turned Into Instructional Power

By embedding this language comparison directly into our platform, we prompt teachers to address gaps before they become obstacles. Adira Reads now helps educators:

• Identify predictable pronunciation shifts (like dropping the /h/ or simplifying consonant clusters)

• Explicitly teach unfamiliar English phonemes using visuals, mouth pictures, and kinesthetic cues

• Use contrastive analysis—a metalinguistic strategy that helps students understand the "why" behind their errors

• Leverage existing strengths such as students’ oral storytelling skills, knowledge of phonics in their L1, and regular subject-verb-object structure

For example, when a Haitian Creole-speaking student writes “dat” instead of “that,” it’s not a mistake born from carelessness. It’s a reflection of their native phonological system. Adira Reads doesn’t just flag the error—it explains it, suggests how to teach it, and equips the teacher with the tools to make the concept stick.

From Equity to Empowerment

Too often, multilingual students are treated as though they are starting from scratch. But Haitian Creole speakers already come with a linguistic framework that can support their English learning—if we take the time to understand it. With Adira Insight, teachers are no longer guessing how to support their Haitian Creole-speaking students. They're empowered with knowledge, tools, and strategies that meet students where they are.

The Broader Implication

This kind of insight-driven instruction is not limited to one school or one language group. It’s part of a larger vision TILT is pursuing with Adira Reads—to revolutionize how we approach literacy through science-based, equity-centered, AI-supported tools.

When we understand the connection between languages, we transform literacy instruction from one-size-fits-all to one-size-fits-right-now—for this student, in this context, with this opportunity.

And when we give teachers information prompted directly in their curriculum, we don’t just improve literacy outcomes. We build trust, foster empathy, and create classrooms where every student feels seen, supported, and capable of success.

Want to see how Adira Reads is helping educators meet multilingual learners where they are? Visit our site or follow us @theindylearningteam to stay inspired and informed.