Younger = better? conference

[Annabelle David]

Younger = better?
Comparing 5, 7 and 11 year olds learning French in the classroom

14th & 15th July 2011
Newcastle University

Keynote speaker: Carmen Muñoz, Universitat de Barcelona
Discussants: Dick Johnstone, University of Stirling Emma Marsden,
University of York


This conference is the culmination of a 2-year project funded by the
ESRC on the role played by age in the early classroom learning of
French. (Award number: RES-062-23-1545). The project has investigated
linguistic development and attitudes in beginners aged 5, 7 and 11
following a similar curriculum taught by the same teacher.

The conference takes place over two days, one for education
professionals and the other for researchers in the field of second
language acquisition.

The first day (Thursday 14th July) targets MFL teachers, teacher
trainers, policy makers and education professionals. A film produced
by the research team will document the teaching style used during the
project and will be followed by a presentation of findings on the
linguistic development of the children, and on the role of literacy,
attitudes and motivation in each year group (Years 1, 3 and 7). A
round-table discussion will follow.

The second day (Friday 15th July) will focus on the project’s research
agenda, and will include an opening keynote speech by Carmen Muñoz,
from the University of Barcelona on the current state of play in
research on the role of age in second language acquisition. The
research team will then present its research findings. Topics covered
will include: linguistic development (e.g. vocabulary and syntax,) the
role of gestures in language teaching and learning, attitudes and
motivation, as well as the role of working memory and literacy. A
discussion will be led by Emma Marsden (University of York) and Dick
Johnstone (University of Stirling) on the implications of the research
for early language learning in the classroom and with suggestions for
future research.

Abstract submission
A poster session will take on place on 15th July. Proposals are
invited for posters on topics relating to age and second language
acquisition. Abstracts should be 300 words maximum.  Proposals should
be submitted to liz.o’sullivan at ncl.ac.uk. Deadline for submission is
1st May 2011.

Important dates:
Deadline for abstracts: 1st May, 2011
Deadline for registration: 1st July, 2011

To register for the conference and for further details, visit the
project website: www.flloc.soton.ac.uk/events.html

Or contact: kevin.mcmanus at ncl.ac.uk or liz.o’sullivan at ncl.ac.uk

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