Upcoming Conferences

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Immersion 2012: Bridging Contexts for a Multilingual World

Fourth International Conference on Language Immersion Education

    October 18-20, 2012
    Crowne Plaza Hotel
    St. Paul, Minnesota

Language immersion education continues to evolve as a uniquely constituted, highly effective program model for launching students on the road to bi- and multilingualism and intercultural competence. School-based immersion programs commit to a minimum of 50% subject-matter schooling through a second, world, heritage or indigenous language at the preschool and elementary levels with varying amounts of subject-based language learning support throughout secondary and post-secondary education. Program models include one-way world language immersion, two-way bilingual immersion, and indigenous immersion for language and culture revitalization. While each model targets distinct sociocultural contexts and educational needs, all embrace language and culture development through subject matter learning. This fourth international conference on immersion education brings these models together to engage in research-informed dialogue and professional exchange across languages, levels, learner audiences and sociopolitical contexts. Four themes provide the framework for discussion:

Theme 1:  Immersion Pedagogy and Assessment
Theme 2:  Culture, Identity and Community
Theme 3:  Program Design, Leadership and Evaluation
Theme 4:  Policy, Advocacy and Communications

Featured Plenary Speakers

• Donna Christian, Senior Fellow, Center for Applied Linguistics, USA
• Ester de Jong, Associate Professor, School of Teaching and Learning, University of Florida
• Timoti Kāretu, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Director, Te Panikiretanga o te Reo Māori [Institute of Excellence in the Māori Language]
• Roy Lyster, Professor, Department of Integrated Studies in Education, McGill University
• Merrill Swain, Professor Emeritus, Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

Conference planning committee chair: Tara Fortune (CARLA). Committee members: Heidi Bernal (Adams Spanish Immersion Magnet, Saint Paul Public Schools), Nicole Boudreaux (Lafayette Parish Foreign Language Immersion Programs), Helena Curtain (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Ann Marie Gunther (NC Department of Public Instruction), Ana Hernandez (CA State University San Marcos), Brian McInnes (University of Minnesota- Duluth, MN), Kathleen Mitchell (University of Minnesota), Silvia Romero-Johnson (Nuestro Mundo Community School, Madison, WI), Julie Sugarman (Center for Applied Linguistics), Sandra Talbot (Utah State Office of Education), Diane Tedick (University of Minnesota), Ofelia Wade (Utah State Office of Education), Alysse Weinberg (University of Ottawa), Molly Wieland (Hopkins Public Schools), Amy Young (University of Minnesota).

 

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We have kept some previous conference information archived, as it might be of value to someone. Please note that these archived pages are no longer being updated and not all links may work.

Exploring Approaches to Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum: Sixth Annual CLAC Conference
CARLA sponsored the conference on Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum(CLAC) at the University of Minnesota from March 9-10, 2012 at the Radisson ­ University Hotel in Minneapolis. The conference theme looked at the many ways and contexts in which CLAC can strengthen language learning and add depth to disciplinary curriculum. Archived information is available on the conference website.

Expanding Our Horizons: Seventh International Conference on Language Teacher Education
This conference was hosted by CARLA on May 19–21, 2011 at the Radisson ­ University Hotel in Minneapolis. Archived information is still available on the conference website. The next conference is scheduled to take place in Washington D.C. May 29-June 1, 2013.

Preparing Language Teachers for the 21st Century: Sixth International Language Teacher Educator Conference
This conference took place May 28–30, 2009 at The George Washington University in Washington D.C. The lead sponsor of the conference was the National Capital Language Resource Center, a sister LRC to CARLA. You can find out more about the conference on the NCLRC site.

Immersion Education: Pathways to Bilingualism and Beyond
The Immersion conference took place in October 2008. The conference website offers handouts and powerpoint slides from some of the presenters along with a video of the plenary by Fred Genesee. The next date for this unique conference is scheduled to be held on October 18-20, 2012 in St. Paul, MN.

Other Past Conferences