Conference 2006: Crossing frontiers (6-7 July 06)
Date: 6 July, 2006 - 7 July, 2006
Location: Cardiff University
Event type: Conference
The third biennial conference for languages in higher education, jointly organised by CILT, the National Centre for Languages and the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies
Programme and proceedings
This two-day conference was jointly organised by the Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies and CILT, the National Centre for Languages, in partnership with key three key subject associations in languages and related studies in higher education: UCML, SCHML and AULC.
Crossing frontiers follows on the success of Setting the agenda for languages in higher education in 2002 and Navigating the new landscape for languages in 2004.
The conference was of interest to all those concerned with the learning and teaching of languages in higher education, both in the UK and internationally. It was also of relevance to those involved in other sectors which border on higher education such as secondary schools, further and adult education.
In a recent report commissioned by the Department for Education and Skills, a number of initiatives to address a diminishing national capacity in languages in the UK were proposed. These included the designation of certain modern languages as of strategic national importance, the development of institutional international policies (which explicitly include reference to languages), and a formal dialogue with professional bodies to develop professional accreditation of language and other internationally related HE courses. The report also recommended that, in order to widen and increase participation in language learning, better strategies needed to be developed to promote and support languages across sectors. This might be achieved through a more co-ordinated programme of outreach work with schools and colleges together with the provision of materials such as Languages Work to demonstrate the ways in which language learning can contribute to employability in a global market. Thus, this conference seeks to explore the ways in which these needs might be met both strategically and through the curriculum.
Footitt, Hilary (2005). The National Languages Strategy in Higher Education. London: DfES
www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RB625.pdf
Conference themes
Conference papers are arranged into the following blocks:
Working across sectors
- Outreach and widening participation
- Lifelong learning
- Stimulating demand for languages in higher education
- Widening participation and inclusion
- Promoting our subject areas
- Outreach with schools
The curriculum
- Less Widely Used and Less-Taught Languages
- Qualifications and accreditation
- independent learning
- Personal Development Plans
- Using Virtual Learning Environments
- The international dimension
- Issues in TESOL
- Collaborative learning
- Online tutorials
- Teaching Less Widely-Used and Less-Taught Languages
- Blended learning
- E-learning communities
- New methods of delivery
- Less Widely-Used and Less-Taught and Strategic Languages
- Translation and interpreting
- Language assistantships
Teacher education
- Initial teacher training
- Supporting new teachers
- Teacher education
Workshops
- Association of University Language Centres (AULC)
- Association for Language Learning (ALL)
- Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies (LLAS)
- Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs)
- Euro RCSG Riley Education
Invited speakers and panels
- Introduction - Mike Kelly, Director, Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies
- Opening address - Jane Davidson, Education and Lifelong Learning Minister, Welsh Assembly
- Plenary - Tony Thorne, King's College London
- Plenary - Elspeth Jones, International Dean, Leeds Metropolitan University
- Plenary - Hilary Footitt, University Council of Modern Languages
- Employability Panel - Facilitated by Teresa Tinsley, Assistant Director, CILT, the National Centre for Languages
Programme and proceedings - click on the icon to read the full paper
Download print versions
Programme (rtf, 658Kb) | Programme (pdf, 140Kb)
Abstracts (pdf, 372Kb)