[EDLING:1826] CFP: Conference on Distinguished Language Studies

[Francis M Hult]

> Conference on Distinguished Language Studies
> Washington, DC
> October 28-29, 2006
> 
> 	In cooperation with the American Councils for International
> Education, the Coalition of Distinguished Language Centers (CDLC), the only
> international organization dedicated to theory, research and teaching
> associated with the achievement of native-like foreign-language proficiency,
> will be hosting a conference in Washington, DC October 28-29, 2006.
> Participation from US, Middle Eastern, and European scholars is anticipated
> in the form of individual papers, workshops, and a roundtable on the topic
> of sociolinguistic and sociocultural aspects of near-native language
> proficiency. Issues of developing all modes of foreign-language proficiency
> (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), translation & interpretation
> skills, cultural understanding, sociolinguistic aspects  of communication,
> and various forms of assessment will be addressed in the conference.
> 	Papers are currently being solicited in all of these areas. One-page
> abstracts may be sent until September 15 to either Betty Lou Leaver
> (Leaver at aol.com <mailto:Leaver at aol.com> ) or Boris Shekhtman (sbsltc at aol.com
> <mailto:sbsltc at aol.com> ). (For those looking for a definition of
> "distinguished" level/ILR Level 4, a description can be found at
> www.govtilr.org <http://www.govtilr.org> ). The working language of the
> conference will be English, with strands in Russian and Arabic during the
> afternoon of the first day. Papers are solicited in all of these languages;
> abstracts may be written in either English or the language of presentation.
> Presentations in languages other than these three are possible; please check
> in advance. Plans call for a post-conference publication of the conference
> proceedings. Previous conference proceedings are available through
> bookstores and online. Information on these volumes is posted at the CDLC
> website.
> 	This is the sixth conference convened by the CDLC. Previous
> conferences were held in Monterey, California, Washington, DC, and Amman,
> Jordan and resulted in published proceedings. The lack of knowledge about
> how to develop high levels of proficiency in foreign languages is a serious
> deficit worldwide. Experience in teaching at/to Level 3 (Superior) and Level
> 4 (Distinguished/Near-Native) language proficiency is rare. The CDLC and its
> affiliates seek to foster collaboration among those experienced in this
> field in order to improve upon the current status of high level language
> teaching, the importance of which increases as the world becomes more
> globally interconnected.
> 	The early registration conference fee of $75 USD ($50 for
> presenters) is in effect until October 20. After that date, registration
> will take place on-site; the on-site registration fee is $125. To
> pre-register, participants should visit the CDLC website:
> www.distinguishedlanguagecenters.org.
> 	The conference will take place at the American Councils for
> International Education, 1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW (near Dupont Circle).
> Updated information will be available at the CDLC website through the
> opening of the conference. Individuals flying into DC may contact one of the
> organizers for suggestions on logistics.