Archived ebulletin: December 2005

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This bulletin contains information on the following:

1. Globalization, a very Canadian Perspective
2. E-Learning Symposium: Pedagogy and Practice
3. Shakespeare's dramatic languages
4. Teaching Translation
5. Introduction to methods for pedagogic research in languages, linguistics and Area Studies
6. Published articles
7. Survey - Provision of Dutch in HE in the UK and Ireland
8. Call for bids: HE Academy Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning Group
9. Centres of Excellence in Language-based Area Studies
10. Subject Centre Good Practice Guide - Call for articles
11. Student Award 2006 - Call for essays
12. Other Events
13. Subject centre Website Update - New resources this month
14. Vacancy for ELT representative on UCML Executive

Subject Centre Events

1. Globalization, a very Canadian Perspective

8 December 2005 - Queen's University Belfast
This conference is organised by the Centre of Canadian Studies. Dr Anthony Gristwood's paper, 'Critical Networks: Using the Internet in world issues curricula', is sponsored by the Subject Centre's guest speaker fund. Speakers include: Professor Terry McGee, Dr Anthony Gristwood, Professor Walter Epp, Professor Neil MacFarlane.
Further details available from: Susan Hodgett sl.hodgett@ulster.ac.uk and a programme is available at the Subject Centre Events page.

2. E-Learning Symposium: Pedagogy and Practice

14 December 2005 - University of Southampton
The overall aim of the symposium is to consider how research into e-learning pedagogy is shaping the direction of thinking in languages, linguistics and area studies and how this is impacting on the student
learning experience. Delegates will be asked to complete an E-Learning questionnaire during the symposium. It should take no more than 10 mins to complete. All entries received during the day will be entered into a prize draw for an Apple i-Pod Nano which will take place at 4.15pm.

Keynote Speakers:
Professor Grainne Conole, Co-director of the UK e-learning Research Centre, University of Southampton; Professor Wendy Hall, CBE, Founding Head of the Intelligence, Agents & Multimedia Research Group, University of Southampton.

Speakers include:
Dr Hugh Davis, University Director of Education (E-Learning), University of Southampton; Caroline Moore, Director IT Services in British Council Teaching & Exams; Dr Rolf Wiesemes, CETL : The Visual Learning Lab; Gillian McLaughlin, DIALANG Manager, Lancaster University; Agnes Kukulska-Hulme, Deputy-Director, Institute of Educational Technology, Open University; Julie Watson, Senior Academic Developer, eLanguages, University of Southampton; Shirley Bennett, Programme Director, Med in e-Learning, University of Hull;
Further details and information on how to register can be found at the Subject Centre Events page.

3. Shakespeare's dramatic languages

14 December 2005 - University of Brighton
This event is sponsored by the Subject Centre's Guest Speaker Fund
Guest speaker: Dr Paul Edmondson and Dr Stanley Wells, The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
This lecture surveys the development of Shakespeare's styles as a dramatic writer. It opens with a brief discussion of the state of the English language at the time he started to write, and of the major influences on his vocabulary. The lecture is amply illustrated with readings from a wide range of plays, and a handout reproduces some of the more important passages quoted.
Details at the Subject Centre Events page.Please contact Catherine Watts (University of Brighton, School of Languages) if you would like to attend: c.watts@brighton.ac.uk

4. Teaching Translation

20 January 2006 - University of Wales, Swansea
The maturing of Translation and Interpreting Studies as academic disciplines offers new opportunities to often hard-pressed Modern Languages departments. In response, new taught MAs (and more recently, BAs) have been developed with a wide spectrum of academic and vocational orientations. The conference will seek to assess current approaches and likely future directions, including the wider impact of translation on traditional degrees. It will provide an opportunity for sharing experience and pooling ideas, focusing on the following issues: the UK market for Translation and Interpreting Studies; role of translation/interpreting theory and linguistics; language technology tools (MT, CAT, localisation and terminology tools, concordancers, etc.); the place of literary and/or technical translation in language teaching; interpreting (consecutive, dialogue, simultaneous); work experience and the interface with the language services professions. To register go to the Subject Centre Events page.

5. Introduction to methods for pedagogic research in languages, linguistics and Area Studies

9 February 2006 - CILT, London
This interactive workshop is a one-day introduction to methods for pedagogic research. No previous experience of using social science methods is assumed. The programme is to be confirmed, but is expected to cover the following topics:

• Formulating research questions
• Questionnaire design and analysis
• In-depth interviewing and focus groups
• Ethics in research
• Dissemination and reporting

The workshop is free, but participants will need to provide their own lunch. Places are limited and will allocated on a first come first served basis. For more information and to register visit the Subject Centre Events page.

Published Articles

6. Published Articles

Have you presented a paper at a Subject Centre conference or workshop that you have since published as a journal article, book chapter or book? If so, please contact John Canning, j.canning@soton.ac.uk so we can refer to your publication on our website.

Survey

7. Provision of Dutch in HE in the UK and Ireland

The Association for Low Countries Studies in Great Britain and Ireland (ALCS) is conducting a survey on the provision of Dutch in higher education institutions in Great Britain and Ireland.
We would be very grateful if you could take the time to answer a questionnaire on the ALCS website (www.sheffield.ac.uk/alcs/survey.htm). Even if Dutch is not currently taught at your university, the information you provide will be worthwhile.For any further information about ALCS and its activities, please see the ALCS website (www.shef.ac.uk/alcs/index.htm) or contact Roel Vismans (ALCS Hon. Treasurer) at R.Vismans@sheffield.ac.uk

HE Academy Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning Group

8. Call for bids: HE Academy Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning Group

The group invites bids for up to 7500 for the following small-scale projects:
Project A: The internal economy of the university and its impact on interdisciplinary teaching and learning Project B: A literature review of interdisciplinary teaching and learning Practitioners from any discipline in UK HE are welcome to apply. Application deadline 20th January 2006. For more information and an application form see the Subject Centre News page.

Centres of Excellence in Language-based Area Studies

9. Centres of Excellence in Language-based Area Studies

LLAS held a meeting on 2 December which aimed to encourage collaboration amongst those bidding for funding in the ESRC/AHRC/ HEFCE/SEFCE/ HEFCW Languages-based Area Studies initative (www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/opportunities/current_funding_opportunities/lang_based_area_studies.aspx). To those of you unable to make the meeting and intending to apply for funding, we are still offering to broker partnerships, provide opportunities for dissemination and encourage successful centres to work together to ensure the best outcomes for our subject communities. A number of universities have indicated that although they are not intending to bid for funding directly, they would very much like to contribute to existing consortia. Please contact John Canning j.canning@soton.ac.uk if you would like more details.

Subject Centre Good Practice Guide

10. Subject Centre Good Practice Guide - Call for acticles

The Editorial Board of the Good Practice Guide invite contributions from new and existing authors. The GPG is now peer reviewed. Contributions are welcome from new researchers and postgraduate students as well as from established authors. For details please visit the Good Practice Guide index. Papers should be submitted to Marie Weaver m.weaver@soton.ac.uk

Students Awards 2006

11. Student Award 2006 - Call for essays

Closing date - 17 February 2006
The Subject Centre is giving language students the chance to offer their opinions and experiences in a 1000-word essay entitled How does your experience of your course compare with any expectations you may have had? This opportunity is open to anyone studying Languages, Linguistics or Area Studies as part of their HE course. There is a 250 prize for the winning entry, which will be featured on the Subject Centre website. For further details see the Subject Centre News page. If you would like some postcards, flyers and/or posters to promote the competition, please contact Paula Davis at: pd2@soton.ac.uk.

Other events

12. Other Events

Please visit the Subject Centre Events page for details of events not being organised by the Subject Centre.

Subject centre website update

13. Subject centre website update - New resources this month

French E-pack (sample)

Italian E-pack (sample)

Spanish E-pack (sample)

Vacancy for ELT representative on UCML Executive

14. Vacancy for ELT representative on UCML Executive

The University Council for Modern Languages (UCML) is the overarching national organisation which represents the interests of modern languages, linguistics and cultural and area studies in UK Higher Education. There is currently a vacancy on the Executive Committee to represent English Language Teaching (ELT). Nominations welcome. For more information and to submit a nomination, contact the UCML administrator, Mary Ohene (mary.ohene@cilt.org.uk). Deadline for nominations is 9th December 2005.

We would be grateful if you would forward this bulletin to colleagues and relevant mailing lists. Please do not hesitate to contact the Subject Centre if you have any queries regarding this bulletin.

Sue Nash
Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies
Modern Languages, School of Humanities
University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ

Tel: 023 8059 4814 Fax: 023 8059 4815
Email: llas@soton.ac.uk