Conference Highlights

Keynotes

• Classroom discussion as an approach to individualization
  by Catherine E. Snow  (Harvard)
  
  Prof. Dr. Catherine E. Snow is internationally recognized for her work on theories of bilingualism and language acquisition through parent-child interaction, as well as on linguistic and social factors that promote or impair literacy development in reading and writing. She opened her keynote with the thought-provoking declaration that individualization is "not easy!". She explored the challenges faced by teachers managing diverse classrooms with immigrant and second-language learners. By providing well-studied examples that foreground students’ voices, Dr. Snow emphasized the importance of utilizing classroom discussion strategically to maximize learning opportunities for all students and enhance their oral language skills, which are vital for literacy development.
  
  
• Individual support in today’s multilingual classes in German primary school: Findings from an intervention study on translanguaging to support students’ reading strategies
  by Jasmin Decristan (Bergische Universität Wuppertal)
  
  Prof. Dr. Jasmin Decristan is head of the department „Schulische Interventionsforschung bei besonderen pädagogischen Bedürfnissen“ [Research on school interventions in case of particular requirements] and conducts research into cooperative learning, dealing with heterogeneity, teaching practice, and its quality. In her presentation, Prof. Dr. Jasmin Decristan discussed the significant cultural and linguistic diversity in modern German classrooms and the importance of translanguaging as a key approach for supporting students’ multilingual resources. She shared findings from her intervention study aimed at enhancing reading strategies among multilingual students, addressing the necessary collaborative space for students to support each other while effectively managing classroom dynamics.

Discussion forums

The conference featured three thematic discussion forums, each providing a platform for leading experts to share their perspectives:

Forum 1: Diagnostics and Professional Competence in the Context of Linguistic Diversity 
Speakers: Elma Blom (Universität Utrecht), Maxime Van Raemdonck (Ghent University), Inci Dirim(University of Vienna), Vera Busse (Universität Münster)
Moderation: Karen Schramm (University of Vienna) 

Forum 2: Successful Formats of Individualization and Their Transferability – A Cross-Institutional Perspective
Speakers: Julie Kerekes, (University of Toronto), Sarah Désirée Lange (Technische Universität Chemnitz), Anna Krulatz (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim), Daphne Greenberg (Georgia State University, Atlanta)
Moderation: Hendrik Stammermann, (Hamburg State Institute for Teacher Training and School Development)

Forum 3: Requirements for Future Research on the Individualization of Language Education
Speakers: Ingrid Piller (Macquarie University, Sydney), Theo Marinis (University of Konstanz), Francis Hult (University of Maryland, Baltimore County); Nathalie Auger (Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 University)
Moderation: Aileen Edele (Humboldt University Berlin)

The forums encouraged lively discussions, inviting audience participation to explore various critical topics.

Paper Sessions

Paper presentations allowed authors to detail their research questions, designs, and findings in dedicated sessions. The sessions covered a wide range of topics, including inclusive approaches to language learning, individualized teaching and diagnostics, heterogeneity, linguistic diversity and multiliteracy as a resource, social integration and well-being and the exploration of innovative technologies and their implications for teaching and learning. Each presentation was allotted 20 minutes, followed by a 10-minute discussion that fostered rich exchanges of ideas among attendees.

Poster Sessions 

Presenters showcased their research visually through posters, promoting interaction during dedicated sessions. This lively format allowed for substantial engagement and networking opportunities for all participants.

A highlight of the poster sessions was the awarding of the Best Poster prize to Minyue Wu, who accepted the award from Francis Hult.

Evening Reception

The first day of the conference concluded with an evening reception where attendees enjoyed delicious finger foods and drinks in a convivial setting. The ambience was further enhanced by a performance from the talented harpist, Alberto Sanchez, who captivated the audience with his energetic music.

Alberto Sanchez from Paraguay is an exceptional talent on his harp! Full of energy and passion, he is able to replace an entire rhythm section. Alberto Sanchez is a winner of the Folklore Oscar, is a member of the band ‘Anna R.’ around the Rosenstolz singer and has recorded the harp tracks for Tabaluga for Peter Maffay in the studio.

A volume of select conference papers will be produced (pending peer review) for the Educational Linguistics books series published by Springer.

Please find the Call for Abstracts here.

We invite manuscript proposals based on empirical studies that consider the heterogeneity of learners’ language abilities and experiences in individualized/adaptive teaching and learning. These may relate to ways of shaping individualization in language education in formal, informal and non-formal settings, to the professional skills required for individualized teaching and learning, or to the transfer of tried-and-tested concepts to other learner groups or contexts.

Please submit your abstract (600 words excluding references) outlining your proposed chapter by May 13, 2025 to individualization-conf.ew@uni-hamburg.de.

Timeline:

May 13, 2025 – Deadline for Authors to Submit Description of Proposed Contribution

June 8, 2025 – Notification of Acceptance / Rejection of Proposals

March 30, 2026 – Deadline for Submission of Full Manuscripts

Guest Editors:

Nora Dünkel¹, Rebecca Höhr², Moritz Sahlender³, Ingrid Gogolin¹

Yvonne Elger⁴, Angelika Gundermann⁵, Rebecca Stein⁶, Christin Tekaath⁷, Alena Meta Luise Töpke⁶, Nicole Züchner⁸

Affiliations: ¹University of Hamburg; ²Goethe University Frankfurt; ³German Institut of Adult Education, Bonn; ⁴University of Münster; ⁵University of Cologne; ⁶Leibniz University Hannover; ⁷University of Siegen; ⁸Chemnitz University of Technology