UK Lingua 2021 - Learning Gain

Multilingual Language Learning and Teaching Colloquium

Durham University, 24 April 2021

The annual Multilingual Language Learning and Teaching Colloquium, UK LINGUA 2021, was hosted by Durham University for the fifth time in its history. UK Lingua 2021 Programme.

The focus of this year’s meeting was 'Learning Gain', understood as the ‘distance travelled’ by students between two points in their learning trajectory, but otherwise explored in the widest of senses. The two keynote speakers were Dr Ursula Lanvers and Joe Dale.

Dr Lanvers is Associate Professor in Language Education at the University of York, who has published extensively on language learner motivation, language education policy and the language learning landscape in the UK.

Joe Dale is a language consultant with expertise in technology and language learning, who has worked with organisations such as Network for Languages, The British Council, the BBC, Skype, Microsoft, and The Guardian.

More than 200 people registered for the event from all levels of teaching (primary, secondary and university). They tuned in from as far as Hong Kong and Canada, representing a wide variety of languages, including Arabic, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Spanish and Russian.

Since the event took place online, it was given a format that optimised the time devoted to discussion and networking. Aside from the two keynote plenaries, the day consisted of parallel discussion tables where different issues concerning language learning and teaching were discussed in smaller groups. In addition, there were 'meet and chill' zoom rooms that allowed people to network more freely around common interests.

For futher information contact: penelope.johnson@durham.ac.uk