Individualization in Language Education Conference 2025

Registration is only possible until 25.02.2025 (provided there are still places available).

Click here to register: Link

The program can be found here.

Keynotes

• Classroom discussion as an approach to individualization
  by Catherine E. Snow  (Harvard)
  
  Immigrant and second-language learning students increase the heterogeneity of skills and knowledge sources within the classroom, creating a challenge for teachers responsible for traditional, sequential curricula. The strategic utilization of discussion as part of instruction can maximize all students' opportunities for learning, while also building the oral language skills that contribute to literacy and learning from text. Specific examples of well-studied curricular approaches that center students' voices will be offered.
  
  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.
  
  
• 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)
  
  Today’s classrooms in Germany are characterized by a large language-related and cultural heterogeneity of students. To better address students’ multilingual resources, and thus to provide individual support to students, translanguaging is considered a key approach. Translanguaging refers to a fluid and flexible use of the different languages that constitute multilingual students’ full linguistic repertoire. To support students’ translanguaging in classes with monolingual instruction in most subjects, such as in Germany, teacher must establish a collaborative space for students to support each other and provide a warm and appreciating climate towards multilingualism. However, teachers frequently express concerns about supporting students’ translanguaging in regular classes. These concerns are mostly related to classroom management and classroom climate as two key dimensions of teaching quality. Against this background, findings from an intervention study in German primary school will be presented. The intervention aimed to examine the effects of translanguaging in today’s multilingual classes to support students’ reading strategies. The presentation will provide insights into the implementation of the intervention and its effectiveness. Moreover, the differential effectiveness depending on students’ multilingualism and self-reported use of multiple languages for learning are reported. Finally, students’ perspectives on classroom management and classroom climate will be presented to empirically examine the concerns about translanguaging in class. The findings offer several implications regarding individual support in todays’ multilingual classes and will be discussed accordingly.
  
  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.

Discussion forums

Based on a panel discussion format, four leading experts will discuss complementary and controversial perspectives on the following topics in three moderated forums: 

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 audience will be invited to participate in the discussions.

Paper Sessions

Paper presentations enable authors to present and discuss the particular research questions, design and results of empirical research. The individual presentations are scheduled for 20 minutes plus 10 minutes for discussion. The 90-minute sessions comprise three presentations on related topics. We kindly ask paper presenters to bring their presentations on a stick and, if possible, to have their own laptop ready for the presentation. 

Poster Sessions (ESA West Wing, Room 221)

Posters (Format: DIN-A0 [84.1 x 118.9 cm], portrait) offer researchers the opportunity to present their work in a concise visual format. There is ample opportunity for interaction and discussion during poster sessions and coffee breaks. A selected number of poster presenters can opt for a poster pitch and will have the opportunity to present their research to the audience in a moderated short interview of 2 minutes to stimulate discourse and international networking. A prize will be awarded for the best poster.  Please send a digital version of your poster by February 26th to individualization-conf.ew"AT"uni-hamburg.de. Posters should be set up on 5th March 2025 between 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM in room 221 (Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1, West Wing). 

Evening Reception (March 5th 2025, 19:00-21:00, ESA West Wing, Room 221)

We are delighted to invite all conference participants to join us for an evening reception! Enjoy an array of delectable finger food and drinks as you engage with fellow attendees in an informal and pleasant atmosphere.

During the reception, we will also award the best poster. Adding to the ambiance of the evening, we are excited to present a musical performance by the exceptionally talented harp player, Alberto Sanchez.

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.

Important Dates:

• Abstract submission deadline: 31.10.2024 
• Notification of acceptance/rejection: as of 04.11.2024
• Conference registration open: as of 18.11.2024 until 25.02.2025
• Conference: 5 - 6 March 2025

Conference Fees:

• EUR 100 for postdoc researchers and professors
• EUR 40 for PhD students and practitioners 
• EUR 25 for undergraduate students

Conference Venue:

Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1,
Flügelbau West (West Wing)
20146 Hamburg

How to get to the venue:

Hamburg has a good public transport with various train (S-Bahn), subway (U-Bahn), and bus lines.
To plan your trips across Hamburg, see: https://www.hvv.de/en

The venue is near the following stations:

• Dammtor Bahnhof (150m): accessible by S-Bahn lines S2, S5; Bus lines 4, 5, 19
• Stephansplatz (550m): accessible by U-Bahn (subway) line U1
• From Gänsemarkt (800m): take bus lines 4 or 5 to Dammtor Bahnhof
• From Hamburg Hauptbahnhof (1,6km): take bus lines 4 or 5; or S-Bahn line S2 to Dammtor Bahnhof

Arriving in Hamburg

By Train:

The closest (long distance) train stations to the conference venue are:

• Dammtor Bahnhof
• Hauptbahnhof (Central Station)
• Bahnhof Altona

Information on tickets and offers: https://www.bahn.de/

By Airplane:

Hamburg Airport is located close to City Center:

Hamburg Airport
Flughafenstrasse 1-3
22335 Hamburg
https://www.hamburg-airport.de/en/

From Hamburg Aiport S-Bahn line S1 takes you to Hamburg Central Station every 10 minutes with a journey time of only 25 minutes. S-Bahn station "Hamburg Airport (Flughafen)" can be reached directly from Terminals 1 and 2 (Arrivals) via elevators, escalators, and fixed stairs.

By Car:

Due to limited parking, we strongly recommend taking public transportation (see above).

By Taxi:

• Hansa-Taxi
  Telephone: +49 (0)40 211 1799
• Taxiruf-Hamburg
  Telephone: +49 (0)40 441 011
• Taxi Hamburg
  Telephone: +49 (0)40 666 666
• Taxi Stambula
  Telephone: +49 (0)40 2000 1111

Accomodation:

• Hotel Vorbach
• Hotel am Rothenbaum
• Premier Inn, Hamburg, City Center
• Prize by Radisson, Hamburg City
• Hotel Continental Hamburg
• Hotel Kronprinz Hamburg Hauptbahnhof
• IBIS Hotel Hamburg Alster Zentrum
• Hotel Wagner im Dammtorpalais
• Hotel Preuss im Dammtorpalais
• Hotel Fresena im Dammtorpalais
• Hotel Bellmoor im Dammtorpalais
• Hotel Amsterdam
• Hotel am Rothenbaum
• Hotel Mittelweg
• Relexa Hotel Bellevue an der Alster
• IntercityHotel Hamburg Dammtor-Messe