Calendar of Events
| 2007 | Event |
|---|---|
| December | Conference paper presentation TESOL, Rome, Italy. |
| Title of Paper: | ELLiE, an Introduction. |
| Presenters: | Lucilla Lopriore and Janet Enever. |
| Short summary: | This paper reported on a preliminary scoping study conducted by six members of the research team in 2006-07 and summarised the aims of the planned three year ELLiE research study. |
| 2008 | Event |
| January | Conference paper presentation ‘The Way Forward’, Bangalore, India. |
| Title of paper: | Early language learning in Europe. |
| Presenters: | Magdalena Szpotowicz, Jelena Mihaljević Djigunović, Janet Enever. |
| Short summary: | The paper drew on initial evidence from a scoping study sample of approximately 900 young beginners aged 6-8 years, reporting on children’s responses to early language learning within a socio-political European context which currently promotes both an earlier start and the development of a plurilingual citizenry. (see Outcomes & Publications page > for powerpoint presentation). |
| March | Conference paper presentation: American Association of Applied Linguistics, Washington, USA. |
| Title of paper: | Products and processes in early foreign language learning. |
| Presenters: | Jelena Mihaljević Djigunović & Stela Letica |
| Short summary: | The paper describes a study into early learning of English as a foreign language. Based on ELLiE project data collection, interactions of selected antecedent, process and product variables are used to interpret their role in early language learning. |
| April | Conference paper presentation ‘Early Learning of English’, Warsaw, Poland. Conference for language teachers organised by the National In-Service Teacher Training Centre and Embassy of the United States of America. |
| Title of paper: | Early Language Learning in Europe. |
| Presenter: | Magdalena Szpotowicz |
| Short summary: | The paper describes the ELLiE project and draws on initial evidence of the scoping study sample. It focuses on the role of contextual variables such as the teaching style and the immediate learning environment of the classroom. |
| June | Conference paper presentation ‘Leading World Learning’, Brighton, England. |
| Title of paper: | Researching primary language learners in Brighton, Warsaw, Rome, Barcelona, Zagreb, Umea and Nijmegen. What are the classroom realities? |
| Presenter: | Janet Enever. |
| Short summary: | The paper contextualised attitudinal development of early language learners in England within the wider framework of the ELLiE study. Data charted initial enthusiasm, a later decline and subsequent increase in attitudinal response over a 20 month period. |
| August | Conference paper presentation, Novosti Na Podrucju Poucevanja Tujih Jezikov in Medkulturnega in Medjezikovnega Uzavescanja na Godnji Stopnji, Ljubjana, Slovenia. |
| Title of paper: | Teaching English to YLs in Croatia: Insights from ELLiE. |
| Presenter: | Jelena Mihaljević Djigunović. |
| Short summary: | The focus of this presentation is on the ongoing research carried out within ELLiE (Early Language Learning in Europe) – a longitudinal multinational research project that Croatia is currently involved in together with six other European countries. The insights presented are based on findings of the first two years of investigating Croatian young EFL learners' attitudes and motivation and language development, as well as contextual variables operationalised at the levels of school setting and immediate language learning environment. |
| September | Conference poster presentation ‘EUROSLA’, Aix-en-Provence, France. Poster presentation, title: Learner Profiles from early language learning situations. |
| Poster contributors: | Elsa Tragant, Maria Rosa Torras, Carmen Muñoz, Eva Lindgren, Lucilla Lopriore & Gun Lundberg. |
| Conference paper presentation: ‘EUROSLA’, Aix-en-Provence, France. | |
| Title of paper: | Interaction of contextual and individual variables in instructed early SLA. |
| Presenters: | Jelena Mihaljević Djigunović, Magdalena Szpotowicz |
| Short Summary: | The paper focuses on a study carried out with 359 Polish and Croatian first grade (age 7-8 years) learners of English as L2. The study is part of a longitudinal multinational project (Early Language Learning in Europe - ELLiE). The aim of the study is to look into the interplay of contextual variables and individual learner differences as they impact on language learning outcomes. A mixed-method research approach was used. The data was gathered by means of questionnaires, interviews, classroom observation and language tests. On the basis of the obtained results an attempt at interpreting the interplay of the included variables and their relevance for instructed early second language learning outcomes is made (see powerpoint presentation > [126kb]) |
| September | Conference paper presentation ‘British association of applied linguistics’ (BAAL) |
| Title of paper: | Tracing young learners’ foreign language development. |
| Presenters: | Gun Lundberg, Eva Lindgren |
| Short summary: | This presentation explored what variables, linguistic aspects and extra-linguistic information, contribute most to early FL learning in an attempt to gain a broader insight into young learners´ FL development. |
| September | Conference paper presentation ‘British association of applied linguistics’ (BAAL) |
| Title of paper: | Why applied linguistics is not enough:Contemporary early foreign language learning policy in Europe. |
| Presenter: | Janet Enever |
| Short summary | This paper questioned why research in applied linguistics appears to have substantially failed to influence the growth of state policies for early foreign language learning across Europe. The paper drew on analysis of policy documents and data evidence from schools in the ELLiE study to identify a trend towards an integrated model of early foreign language learning. It was suggested that early language learning should now be viewed from a broader educational context than applied linguistics research has traditionally maintained. |
| October | Plenary conference presentation “Second Language Research Forum” (SLRF), University of Hawaii, Honolulu. |
| Title of presentation: | When context matters: age effects on second language learning. |
| Presenter: | Carmen Muñoz |
| Short summary: | This presentation analyses the variables that are crucial in the discussion of age effects in second language acquisition, and on the basis of the existing empirical evidence from classroom studies it is argued that the amount and quality of the input that learners receive have a significant bearing on the effects that age has on second language learning. References to the ELLiE study illustrate the need for research that looks at input and interaction within the classroom. |
| October | Plenary conference presentation The Second International OPTIMA Conference “Ideas for Quality in Language Education”, Bulgaria. |
| Title of paper: | A longitudinal study of early language learning in Europe: some preliminary results. |
| Presenter: | Lucilla Lopriore |
| Short summary: | Preliminary results of ELLiE, a study investigating the implementation of early languages learning policy in 7 European country contexts and its consequence for languages learning over time, are presented. |
| November | Conference paper presentation: ‘European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) Conference’, Ljubjana, Slovenia. |
| Title of paper: | What can realistically be achieved in state schools where relatively limited amounts of class time are available for foreign language learning? |
| Presenter: | Janet Enever |
| Short summary: | This paper discussed evidence of early attitudinal and motivational findings together with early evidence of linguistic outcomes from the ELLiE study. Initial findings indicated the importance both of encouraging the development of early positive attitudes and of not being over-ambitious in expectations of linguistic progress for young language learners where there is a quite limited amount of curriculum time for languages. |
| December | Plenary conference presentation ‘International Conference ‘Multilingualism: Cross-cultural Communications & language Acquisition’, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló, Spain. |
| Title of paper | Early foreign language learning in Europe |
| Plenary speaker: | Carmen Muñoz |
| Short summary | The talk focused on the recent changes in Spanish and European educational policies resulting in an earlier introduction of foreign languages in school. The first involved the introduction of a first foreign language in primary education (around age 8) instead of secondary education (around age 11). Outcomes were examined in the light of research findings from Catalonia (the BAF Project) and other European settings. The second, more recent change, involving an even earlier compulsory start age for foreign language usually at the beginning of primary education, drew on data from the ELLiE study in 7 European settings. Psycholinguistic, sociolinguistic and linguistic factors, such as self-perception of language aptitude, motivation, use of the language in the classroom and in the larger context, language distance and the bilingual or trilingual condition of learners were examined in the discussion. |
| 2009 | Event |
| March | Conference paper presentation: American Association of Applied Linguistics, (AAAL), Denver, Colorado. |
| Title of paper: | Learner behavior and learning outcomes: Insights from the YL classrooms. |
| Presenter: | Jelena Mihaljević Djigunović |
| Short summary | The author examines the relationship between young EFL learners' classroom behavior and their achievements. The study described is part of part of the Early Language Learning in Europe (ELLiE) project. The data was gathered by classroom observation, interviews, questionnaires and language tests. Results were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively, and findings are interpreted from a developmental perspective. |
| March | Conference paper presentation: American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL), Denver, Colorado. |
| Title of paper: | Development of young learners’ perception of foreign language learning and teaching |
| Presenter: | Lucilla Lopriore |
| Short summary | This contribution presented some of the emerging results of a longitudinal study on the development of learners’ perceptions of classroom activities, of the importance of FL learning and of their learning achievement. The paper reports on a sample of 49 Italian young learners of English (age: 6-7 years) drawn from eight primary classes. The participants’ perception of the importance of FL learning and of their own learning progress and achievement was elicited through oral interviews. Their self-assessment of English achievement was considered against their teacher’s assessment of their language aptitude and performance on end-of-year tests in English. |
| April | ELLiE Mid-Project Seminar, Nijmegen, Netherlands |
| Seminar presentations | Invited audience of European research experts met to review research, critique evidence and recommend future steering |
| Presenters | ELLiE research team |
| June | Conference paper presentation. European Association for Language Testing and Assessment (EALTA), Finland |
| Title of paper: | Assessing young learners´ progress in a longitudinal study: valuing learners´ perception |
| Presenter: | Lucilla Lopriore |
| Short summary | This contribution presents some preliminary results from the ELLiE study commenced in 2006. In the presentation the author discussed the findings in terms of the observed changes of the Italian cohort composed by 163 young learners, of their FL development and of their perceptions during the first two years of the study. In order to investigate young learners’ development of their aural and oral skills, different quantitative as well as qualitative instruments have been used: classroom observations, teachers’ interviews and questionnaires, learners’ self-assessment, analysis of country specific documents and materials, and specific listening and speaking tasks. All the listed measures were applied in both years (grades 1 and 2) that the participants were followed. |
| June | Round Table event,: Empirical Studies in English Applied Linguistics. University of Pécs, Hungary |
| Title of paper | Attitudinal aspects of early EFL learning |
| Presenters: | Dr.Lucilla Lopriore and Prof. Jelena Mihaljević Djigunović |
| Short summary: | Drawing on data from Italy and Croatia, the talk focused on results of a study into young EFL learners’ attitudes to classroom activities, language learning, language teaching and to themselves as language learners. Attitudinal aspects of early EFL learning were analysed from the following three perspectives: the relationship of attitudes to learning outcomes, the development of attitudes from Year 1 to Year 2 and comparison of attitudes of young learners from the two country contexts. The results suggest that young EFL learners’ attitudes change with time. Also, the relationship between attitudes and language learning achievement showed interesting patterns in the two observed years. |
| August | Symposium event: European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction conference (EARLI), Amsterdam, Netherlands. |
| Colloquium titles: | i. Challenges in researching young foreign language learners' attitudes and motivation. ii. Challenges of data collection in multinational studies: insights into young learners’ aural comprehension processes iii. Effects of foreign language exposure on young learners’ vocabulary production. iv. Young learners' oral production: contextual and teacher factors. Symposium event followed by discussion chaired by Dr Ron Oostdam. |
| Presenters: | ELLiE team |
| Short summary | See Outcomes & Publications for the PDF > |
| August | EARLI Symposium , Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Title of presentation | Constructing Transnational Research: ELLiE Research Design |
| Presenter | Janet Enever |
| Short summary | See Outcomes & Publications for the PDF > |
| September | BAAL conference, Newcastle, UK. |
| Title of paper: | “The impact of out-of-school language exposure on early language learning” Contributor to colloquium event led by Paula Kalaja and Anne Pitkänen-Huhta, Jyvaskyla University, Finland. |
| Presenter: | Gun Lundberg |
| Short summary: | The paper focused on young learners of foreign languages across Europe, drawing on data from the ELLiE study. It considered the effects of different contextual factors both in and out of the foreign language classroom on young learners´ foreign language development. |
| September | European Commission, Multilingualism Policy Unit: Conference on Early Language Learning for Children of Pre-School Age |
| ELLiE representation | Jelena Mihaljević Djigunović– presenter on young learner special needs Magdalena Szpotowicz – Polish national representative. Other members of ELLiE team – invited delegates |
| Short summary | European launch of publicity campaign aiming to raise awareness of all aspects related to early foreign language learning for children of pre-school age in Europe. Campaign managed by Piccolingo, Barcelona. http://www.piccolingo.eu/recursos/ELLiE_Piccolingo.pdf > |
| September | Lend Conference, Lecce, Italy: Listening, speaking and interaction: enhancing and evaluating communicative competencies at school and at university |
| Title of presentation | Developing and evaluating listening |
| Presenter | Dr Lucilla Lopriore |
| Short summary | Effective listening is closely connected to speaking. The contribution discusses several issues related to aural language development and listening assessment, with a particular focus on early language learning. Preliminary results of the listening development of a group of young Italian learners participating in a longitudinal study (ELLiE) are presented and discussed. |
| October | Universidad de Santiago de Chile and Universidad de Valparaíso (Chile) |
| Paper title: | Ventajas y retos de una introducción temprana del inglés |
| Presenter: | Prof Carmen Muñoz |
| Short summary | This talk discusses the motivations behind an early introduction of a foreign language and the evidence from research. It then examines the conditions for a successful implementation of early language learning and teaching and examines the challenges found in international experiences. |
| November | Multiplying Voices, TESOL Italy Conference, Rome. |
| Title of poster presentation: | ELLiE: a longitudinal study on aspects of early EFL learning |
| Presenter: | Dr Lucilla Lopriore |
| Short summary: | This paper presented some of the emerging results of the ELLiE study focusing on those factors that might play a role in the development of learners’ perceptions of their achievements in foreign language learning and their responses in terms of linguistic self-confidence in schooled contexts. Some preliminary results relating young EFL learners’ attitudes to classroom activities, language learning, language teaching and to themselves as language learners were illustrated. |
| 2010 | Event |
| January | Symposium 'English? Sure enough!' English teachers’ conference - primary and secondary education, Utrecht, Netherlands |
| Title of presentation | Research aims, Set-up and first results of the ELLiE project |
| Presenter | Evelien Krikhaar |
| Short summary: | The presentation gave an introduction to the ELLiE project and its research aims and instruments. Language education policy and first results for listening and oral production were discussed, with a specific focus on the Dutch policy and the first Dutch results. |
| February | APAC (Associació de Professors d’Anglès de Catalunya), Barcelona (Spain). |
| Plenary conference presentation | Early language learning in Europe: a comparative study |
| Presenter | Prof Carmen Muñoz |
| Short summary: | This talk presents the research project that a group of European researchers from 7 different countries are carrying out with a view to clarifying what can realistically be achieved in state schools where relatively limited amounts of class time are available for foreign language learning. The ELLiE study is longitudinal which aims to follow pupils all along primary education. Data are collected on learner characteristics, learner attitudes and motivation as well as on learners’ foreign language development. Preliminary analysis is presented that shows both commonalities and differences between the different contexts. |
| March | American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL), Atlanta, USA: |
| Title of presentation | Colloquium: Contexts and practices in learning and using languages: implications for research and pedagogies: The impact of out-of-school language exposure on early language learning |
| Presenters | Dr Eva Lindgren and Gun Lundberg |
| Short summary: | This paper discusses how out-of-school exposure to English affects young learners´ language development and how school input, out-of-school input and learners´ FL output are related. The paper also examines the benefits of out-of-school exposure to English for young learners and the differences between learning a language in and outside school. |
| American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL), Atlanta, USA | |
| Title of presentation | Investigating affective characteristics of the young foreign language learner: insight from a longitudinal study |
| Presenters | Professor Jelena Mihaljević Djigunović and Dr. Lucilla Lopriore |
| Short summary | Results of longitudinal research into affective characteristics of young FL learners from two country contexts (Croatia and Italy) were presented. The findings suggested that many of the YL affective characteristics were context-dependent and that they changed over time. |
| May | Annual conference of the Croatian Association of Applied Linguistics |
| Title of paper | Classroom discourse as input in early SLA |
| Presenter | Professor Jelena Mihaljević Djigunović |
| Short summary | The talk focused on a number of aspects of classroom discourse (quality and quantity of teacher and learner talk, codeswitching and codemixing) and considered them against individual learner factors and learning outcomes. It was concluded that the role of classroom discourse in early SLA can be understood well only through its interaction with other contextual and individual factors implicated in early SLA. |
| June | Conference: Who needs languages? International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA), University of Jyvaskyla, Finland |
| Title of paper | Paper: Parents, teachers and early start language-in-education policies: longitudinal perspectives on implementation |
| Presenter | Dr Janet Enever |
| Short summary | The paper explored the responses of parents and teachers in one region of England where foreign languages have been introduced over a five year period in advance of the anticipated compulsory entitlement for all seven year olds. The findings indicated a shift over time, from teachers and schools initially being quite positive about the potential, whilst parents were less certain, whereas by the end of the study, teachers found the task challenging, yet parents appeared considerably more positive about the possible achievements and benefits. |
| ETAI (English Teaching Association of Israel) Jerusalem, Israel. | |
| Title of paper | ELLiE: a longitudinal transnational study on early language learning |
| Presenter | Dr Lucilla Lopriore |
| Short summary | Presentation of some preliminary results of a study of young EFL learners’ attitudes and motivation to foreign language learning and their language achievements within a 4-year foreign language study. |
| University of Pécs, Hungary. Roundtable Empirical Studies in English Applied Linguistics |
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| Title of paper | Role of Language Exposure in Early Foreign Language Learning |
| Presenters | Professor Jelena Mihaljević Djigunović and Dr. Lucilla Lopriore |
| Short summary | This paper explored the role of informal exposure to EFL in early language learning. Findings suggested that language exposure does not have a linear connection with achievement and that, rather, it might be more useful to think of this relationship as part of a dynamic system of interplays of a whole host of factors whose role and importance are yet to be discovered. |
| September | Sociolinguistics Symposium, University of Southampton, UK |
| Title of paper | The impact of out-of-school language exposure on early language learning |
| Presenter | Gun Lundberg |
| Short summary | This paper presents data concerning different variables contributing to early foreign language learning, collected during the first years of a longitudinal, multinational study, Early Language Learning in Europe (ELLiE). |
| October | ELLiE Team Presentation of Key Research Findings from the ELLiE Study, University of Warsaw, Poland |
| Seminar presentations | Invited audience of European policy makers, civil servants, teacher educators, inspectors, school principals and researchers met to review and discuss the longitudinal research findings. |
| Presentations | The ELLiE Research Framework Dr Janet Enever See Outcomes & Publications for the PDF > |
| National language education policy: How does implementation vary in Europe? Dr Magdalena Szpotowicz, Dr Janet Enever See Outcomes & Publications for the PDF > |
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| The Learner: Do individual differences matter? Professor Jelena Mihaljević Djigunović, Dr Lucilla Lopriore See Outcomes & Publications for the PDF > |
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| The school: which contextual factors matter for effective early language learning? Evelien Krikhaar, Dr Lucilla Lopriore See Outcomes & Publications for the PDF > |
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| The significance of the teacher’s role in early language learning. Dr Elsa Tragant & Gun Lundberg See Outcomes & Publications for the PDFs -1 & 2 > |
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| The home as a site for support of early language learning. Professor Carmen Muñoz, Dr Eva Lindgren See Outcomes & Publications for the PDF > |
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| November | Seminar: Universitat Jaume I, Castelló, Spain |
| Title of paper | Out-of-school factors in early language learning |
| Presenter | Prof Carmen Muñoz |
| Conference: IX Jornades pedagògiques de llengües estrangeres, Generalitat de Catalunya, Gerona, Spain | |
| Title of paper | Foreign language learning at primary: results from a European study |
| Presenter | Dr Elsa Tragant |
| Conference: Topics in applied linguistics: Stability & variability. Opole University, Poland. | |
| Title of paper | Variability in young learners’ vocabulary production in instructed contexts |
| Presenter | Dr Magdalena Szpotowicz |
| Short summary | The aim of this paper was to present the analysis of young learners’ oral production in a free and stimulated retrieval task in a longitudinal perspective, which was carried out as part of the ELLiE study in years 2008 and 2009. See Outcomes & Publications for the PDF > |
| Title of paper | Early start language-in-education programmes: Some longitudinal perspectives on the role of parents |
| Presenter | Dr Janet Enever |
| Short summary | Data from the analysis of the sample in England indicated that early FL learning was perceived as statistically more useful, fun, important and worth starting early by those parents with children who are keen to learn FL. The potential for creating a positive attitude towards other cultures however, was not statistically significant, indicating little difference in parents’ opinions – whether their children are keen or not keen on learning FLs. See Outcomes & Publications for the PDF > |
| 30th Nov 2010 | Closure of European Commission funded ELLiE Project |
| December | University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy Conference title: Standardized Language Testing in Teaching and Research |
| Title of paper | Early language learning: investigating young learners’ achievement in a longitudinal perspective |
| Presenter | Dr Lucilla Lopriore |
| Short summary | The author discussed the emerging results of a longitudinal study on the progress and achievement of young learners of English as a foreign language in Italy, specifically on the learners’ achievement in aural comprehension. |
Forthcoming |
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| 2011 | Event |
| March | TESOL 2011. New Orleans, USA |
| Title of paper | Colloquium title: Teaching Young Learners: Research Perspectives on Policy and Practice |
| Presenter | Dr Lucilla Lopriore |
| Short Summary | (ELLiE) Several recently promoted research studies have aimed to investigate the impact of foreign language learning at primary level on the school system and on young learners. Preliminary findings of a transnational longitudinal research project carried out in seven European countries will be presented and discussed |
| TESOL 2011. New Orleans, USA | |
| Title of paper | Early Language Learning: longitudinal perspectives on learners’ attitudes and achievement |
| Presenters | Dr Lucilla Lopriore & Dr Eva Lindgren |
| Short Summary | This contribution is aimed at presenting some findings of a longitudinal transnational study on Early Language Learning in Europe (ELLIE) investigating the development over time (4 years) of approximately 1200 young learners, their achievement in oral-aural skills and their perceptions of the foreign language learning experience. |
| March | American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL), Chicago |
| Title of paper | Listening: insights into young learners’ aural comprehension processes |
| Presenter | Dr Lucilla Lopriore |
| Short Summary | This contribution presents the results of a longitudinal study on the development of young learners’ aural comprehension skills in English. The study is part of a project investigating early language learning in Europe. Preliminary findings about the impact of activities and events on learners’ aural comprehension development will be discussed. |
| April | 19th annual HUPE conference, Croatia |
| Title of presentation | Attitudinal profile of the young language learner- Evidence from the ELLiE project |
| Presenter | Prof Jelena Mihaljević Djigunović |
| May | The 8th Annual EALTA Conference - Ethics in Language Testing and Assessment |
| Title of paper | When teachers and research meet: investigating young learners’ progression and achievement |
| presenter | Dr Lucilla Lopriore |
| Short Summary | Some of the emerging results of a transnational longitudinal study (ELLiE) investigating progression and achievement of young learners of Englis, with a particular focus on their aural comprehension, will be presented for three of the countries where the study has taken place (Croatia, Italy, The Netherlands). |
| May | 25th Annual conference Croatian Association of Applied Linguistics |
| Title of presentation | Research into early instructed SLA – new insights |
| Presenters | Prof Jelena Mihaljević Djigunović and Dr Lucilla Lopriore |
| June | University of Pécs, Hungary. Roundtable Empirical Studies in English Applied Linguistics |
| Title of presentation | Development of listening comprehension in early FLL |
| Presenters | Dr Lucilla Lopriore and Prof Jelena Mihaljević Djigunović |
| August | International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA), Beijing. Colloquium Title: Early language learning in Europe: policy development and learning outcomes (Colloquium organiser: Prof. Rosamund Mitchell) |
| Title of paper | Young children's attitudes and motivation toward foreign language learning |
| Presenter | Dr Elsa Tragant, Prof Carmen Muñoz |
| Title of paper | Oral production of classroom language learners aged 7 to 10 |
| Presenter | Dr Magdalena Szpotowicz |
| Title of paper | Comparing early start language policies in Europe |
| Presenter | Dr Janet Enever |
| International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA), Beijing. Colloquium title: Contexts and practices in learning and using languages: implications for research and pedagogies (Colloquium organiser: Prof. Paula Kajala) | |
| Title of paper | Out-of-school language exposure and its impact on young learners´ learning outcomes |
| Presenter | Gun Lundberg |
