Keynote speaker:

Dr. Karin Kleppin, Doctor and Professor in Applied Linguistics and Foreign Language Studies, Bochum University, Germany

The Challenges and Evolution of Tandem Learning

Closing lecturer:

Dr. João A. Telles, Coordinator of the Teletandem Project, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Brazil

Foreign Language Learning in Tandem: Present and Future

Venue:

University of Miami

Coral Gables, Florida, USA

Date:

February 27, 28 and March 1, 2014

Deadline for Proposals:

Aug 15th, 2013

Special Workshop for Educators

"Teletandem: Orientation and Guidelines for Telecollaboration Sessions and Mediation Meetings"

February 28, 2014 from 3:00-5:00PM

As part of the event, there will be a hands-on workshop in the MLL Language Lab (for educators who would like to explore this virtual approach to learning languages. Registration is $25 (cash only) for educators who wish to attend this workshop only. For those attending the full program and UM faculty, admission is free. To sign up, please send an e-mail to inflit2014@gmail.com. Please sign up early, as space is limited.

 Learning foreign languages in-tandem is not a new idea. Tandem learning has been used by many students and professionals in the field of foreign language learning, since it was developed in Europe in the seventies and eighties. Foreign language learning in-tandem is based on principles of peer collaboration and reciprocity and much research has been carried out about the characteristics and language acquisition processes using this approach.

However, in the present era of globalization, the development of new ICTs – Information Communication Technologies - have eliminated trans-geographical and transnational borders, providing foreign language teachers and students with new opportunities for communication and contact between languages and cultures. Therefore, we are now faced with challenges to how extend research endeavors and broaden international efforts and collaboration to better understand the cultural dimensions of this learning context, particularly its intercultural communication and discourse, now that the principles of tandem learning start to be transposed and transformed from face-to-face into interactions mediated by technology and virtual environments.

Objective

The objective of this international meeting is to offer a context for international researchers who are currently developing studies on tandem learning to share their ideas and research progress with other colleagues around the world, particularly (but not exclusively) those who are working with the developments of technology and foreign language learning in-tandem.

Format of sessions

The meeting wishes to avoid the usual hassle of paper presentations of regular academic congresses. It will be purposively organized so that participating researchers and foreign language teachers will have the opportunity to present their research and pedagogical experiences with tandem learning at length, allowing time for group support, deeper discussions on the presented subjects and research results, and particularly for inter-institutional contact between researchers to open up context opportunities for international collaboration and research support.

Sessions will have one presenter, with multi-media resources, where he/she will have thirty minutes to present the research project, project research or pedagogical experience with foreign language learning in-tandem. The other half hour will be used for group discussion and problematization of the presentation content.

 There will be a fee of $25 for presenters and those who wish to attend, which will be due upon arrival at the University of Miami on February 27, 2014. Only cash will be accepted. Admission is free for UM faculty.

Areas

Paper submissions are welcomed in the following areas (but not exclusively) of foreign language learning in tandem:

1.Face-to-face foreign language learning in-tandem

2.Technology in foreign language learning in-tandem

3.Teletandem: future challenges

4.Foreign language acquisition and  learning in-tandem

5.The cultural dimension of learning in-tandem: Intercultural discourse and communication, social, gender, racial and identity issues

6.Setting up international, intercontinental and inter-institutional collaboration to develop foreign language learning in-tandem

Paper Submission Format

1. Download template and submit a 500 word abstract, Font: Arial, font size 10, single spaced. Please make the document a Microsoft Word document. The title must be positioned in the center, followed by the author(s) name(s), institution, country and contact e-mail. Below the abstract, supply the six most influential bibliographical references of your paper.

2.Send abstract to inflit2014@gmail.com no later than Aug 15th, 2013. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt.

3.Notices of paper acceptance will be e-mailed to you until Sep 15, 2013, with a letter of acceptance, so that you may look for funding for participating in the meeting.

4.Papers will be part of an eBook with ISBN. Full papers must be sent to the same e-mail address, above, until May 15th, 2014.

Hotel Accommodations

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