UZRT 2024
Early language learning in formal contexts
Call for Papers
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Key dates
Abstract submission deadline: October 20, 2023
Results of abstract review returned to authors: November 25, 2023
Conference registration fees due for all presenters: December 20, 2023
Croatia was among the first European countries to introduce mandatory learning of a first foreign language from the first grade of primary school. The precursors to this initiative were 1970s pioneering studies on early learning of English (e.g., Vilke, 1976, 1979), and research projects that ensued (e.g., Vilke, 1991, 1995), which included studies on early learning of additional three foreign languages (e.g., Kruhan, 1993; Sironić Bonefačić, 1993; Vrhovac 1993); body of work which was referred to as Zagreb School of Early Language Learning (Vilke, 1999).
In the academic year 2023/24, we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of mandatory foreign language learning from the first grade of primary education. We would like to take this opportunity to assess past experiences and practices in early language education and to address present challenges and necessary modifications in light of research done in the field in the past 20 years. We would also like to broaden our scope to include more contemporary issues of pre-primary, as well as multiple language learning at an early age in formal contexts.
Hence, we invite researchers to present and discuss current research in the field of early language /multiple language learning, from both educational and linguistic perspectives, focusing on the processes and outcomes and the way they are affected by the educational provision itself. We hope to make it the basis for comparison of experiences of early language learning in different countries and across different contexts, and the platform for creating synergies for future cooperation and projects.
We invite scholars and practitioners teaching and researching early language learning in formal contexts to submit symposium or single paper proposals that focus on:
- Language development at an early age
- Literacy development at an early age
- Young learner individual differences (motivation, anxiety, attitude, autonomy, emotion, etc.)
- Research methodology in research on/with young language learners
- Teachers of young learners
- Language teacher education
- Technology in early language teaching and learning
- Early learning materials development
- Assessment in early language education
- Methods and approaches in early language learning
- Innovative practices in early language education
- Language and literacy development for children with language impairment and other disabilities
- Early language learning policy
- Plurilingual approaches to early language teaching
- Language immersion, heritage, and minority education at an early age
- Multilingual classroom, translanguaging, and plurilingualism
- Early language curriculum development and assessment
- Teaching 2nd, 3rd and additional languages at an early age
- Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) at an early age
The conference will be organized in the form of symposia and individual papers:
Single paper presentations should last for 20 minutes and will be followed by a 10-minute discussion. The oral presentations can be in any language, but visuals (e.g., Powerpoint presentations) have to be in English. We welcome abstracts of no more than 300 words, specifying the title of the presentation, purpose of study, methodology, summary of findings/results, conclusion, significance/contributions of study, and references (if applicable). Abstracts written in languages other than English should also include an abstract in English. All abstracts should be written in MS Word format (DOC or DOCX), using Times New Roman 12pt. Proposals should be submitted through EasyAbs: Abstract Submission and Review Facility
https://easyabs.linguistlist.org/conference/UZRT2024
Symposium should consist of three to six individual papers. It should demonstrate cohesiveness across presentations and preference will be given to presentations strongly linked to the conference’s central theme. The symposium can be in any language, but abstracts in English should accompany abstracts in languages other than English. When applying for a symposium, the Convenor of the symposium is responsible for submitting the following:
- An abstract (maximum 500 words) describing the theme of the symposium and its relevance within the framework of the conference;
- A shorter abstract (maximum 300 words) for each of the papers included in the proposed symposium.
The shorter abstracts should specify the title of the presentation, purpose of study, methodology, summary of findings/results, conclusion, significance/contributions of study, and references (if applicable). All abstracts should be written in MS Word format (DOC or DOCX), using Times New Roman 12pt. Abstracts submitted in Symposium format will be reviewed as a whole.
Proposals should be submitted through EasyAbs: Abstract Submission and Review Facility
https://easyabs.linguistlist.org/conference/UZRT2024
Pre-conference event: Early Language Learning in Croatia
The pre-conference event will take place on Thursday, February 15, 2024. It will host a roundtable with invited participants on the topic of teaching different languages to young learners in Croatia and individual paper sessions focusing specifically on the early learning of languages in the Croatian context. Hence, we invite researchers and practitioners (teachers of different languages in Croatia) to share their experiences and examples of good practice (aimed at practitioner[1] audiences). The working language of the pre-conference event is Croatian.
Single paper presentations should last for 15 minutes and will be followed by a 5-minute discussion. We welcome abstracts of no more than 300 words, specifying the title of the presentation, aims, description, conclusions or lessons learned, and relevance for practitioners. Proposals will be evaluated based on the criteria of soundness (logic and clarity of arguments and the structure of the proposal) and relevance (to practitioners and alignment with conference goals). Abstracts should be written in Croatian and submitted in MS Word format (DOC or DOCX) using Times New Roman 12pt.
Proposals should be submitted through EasyAbs: Abstract Submission and Review Facility
https://easyabs.linguistlist.org/conference/UZRT2024
Conference proceedings:
We are planning a publication of selected conference presentations in a peer-reviewed open-access publication. Previous books of proceedings are available at: http://uzrt.ffzg.unizg.hr/?page_id=197
Conference fee:
| Pre-conference event February 15 |
Conference February 16 & 17 |
Pre-conference + conference February 15 – 17 |
|
| Fee (in euros) |
55 | 110 | 125 |
| Late payment (in euros) (after January 15, 2024) |
68 | 130 | 150 |
More information on the conference will be posted at http://uzrt.ffzg.unizg.hr/ soon.
Please, save the date!
We look forward to receiving your symposium and individual paper proposals and welcoming you in Zagreb in February 2024.
Organising committee:
Branka Barčot
Lidija Cvikić
Ana Ćavar
Nives Kovačić
Mirela Landsman Vinković
Stela Letica Krevelj
Sara Profeta
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[1] By practitioners we understand those who are engaged in day-to-day activities of supervising, supporting, and teaching languages as well as policymaking.