Full Title: UZRT 2024 Early Language Learning in Formal Contexts
Short Title: UZRT 2024

Date: 16-Feb-2024 - 17-Feb-2024
Location: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Croatia, Croatia
Contact Person: Sara Profeta
Meeting Email: [email protected]
Web Site: http://uzrt.ffzg.unizg.hr/

Linguistic Field(s): Applied Linguistics

Call Deadline: 10-Oct-2023

Meeting Description:

UZRT 2024: Early Language Learning in Formal Contexts

Croatia was among the first European countries to introduce mandatory learning of a first foreign language from the first grade of primary school. The precursors to this initiative were 1970s pioneering studies on early learning of English (e.g., Vilke, 1976, 1979), and research projects that ensued (e.g., Vilke, 1991, 1995), which included studies on early learning of additional three foreign languages (e.g., Kruhan, 1993; Sironić Bonefačić, 1993; Vrhovac 1993); body of work which was referred to as Zagreb School of Early Language Learning (Vilke, 1999).
In the academic year 2023/24, we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of mandatory foreign language learning from the first grade of primary education. We would like to take this opportunity to assess past experiences and practices in early language education and to address present challenges and necessary modifications in light of research done in the field in the past 20 years. We would also like to broaden our scope to include more contemporary issues of pre-primary, as well as multiple language learning at an early age in formal contexts.

2nd Call for Papers:

We invite researchers to present and discuss current research in the field of early language /multiple language learning, from both educational and linguistic perspectives, focusing on the processes and outcomes and the way they are affected by the educational provision itself. We hope to make it the basis for comparison of experiences of early language learning in different countries and across different contexts, and the platform for creating synergies for future cooperation and projects.

We accept symposium or single paper proposals that focus on:
Language development at an early age
Literacy development at an early age
Young learner individual differences (motivation, anxiety, attitude, autonomy, emotion, etc.)
Research methodology in research on/with young language learners
Teachers of young learners
Language teacher education
Technology in early language teaching and learning
Early learning materials development
Assessment in early language education
Methods and approaches in early language learning
Innovative practices in early language education
Language and literacy development for children with language impairment and other disabilities
Early language learning policy
Plurilingual approaches to early language teaching
Language immersion, heritage, and minority education at an early age
Multilingual classroom, translanguaging, and plurilingualism
Early language curriculum development and assessment
Teaching 2nd, 3rd and additional languages at an early age
Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) at an early age

Plenary speakers:
Jelena Mihaljević Djigunović, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Marianne Nikolov, University of Pecs, Hungary
Simone Pfenninger, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Important dates:
Abstract Submission Deadline: October 10, 2023
Results of abstract review returned to authors: November 15, 2023
Conference registration fee due for all presenters: December 15, 2023

More information on abstract submission and the conference fee at http://uzrt.ffzg.unizg.hr/