More information here.

Department of English Studies, Faculty of Pedagogy and Fine Arts

Adam Mickiewicz University, Kalisz

and

Institute of Modern Languages, State School of Higher Professional Education, Konin

are happy to announce an international conference:

Autonomy in language learning and teaching:

Techniques, strategies and resources

supported by the AILA Research Network on Learner Autonomy (http://www.ailarenla.org/)

Konin, May 8th-10th, 2012

CALL FOR PAPERS
Theme: The conference will be devoted to promoting learner autonomy in the language classroom and it will be a follow-up to three similar events that have taken place over the last eight years. It will be organized by the Department of English Studies, Faculty of Pedagogy and Fine Arts, Adam Mickiewicz University, Kalisz, Poland and the Institute of Modern Languages, State School of Higher Professional Education, Konin, Poland. The languages of the conference will be English and Polish, with most of the plenary talks being given in the former.

PLENARY SPEAKERS
The following scholars have agreed to participate in the conference and deliver plenary talks:
· Danuta Gabryś-Barker (Institute of English Studies, University of Silesia);
. David Little (Trinity College, Dublin);
· Kazimiera Myczko (Institute of German Studies, Adam Mickiewicz University);
· Weronika Wilczyńska (Institute of French Studies, Adam Mickiewicz University);
· Maria Wysocka (Institute of English Studies, University of Silesia);
· Richard Smith (Center for Applied Linguistics, University of Warwick).

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
We welcome contributions related to the theme of the conference which could, among other things, focus on the following areas:
· ways of fostering autonomy in different age groups and at different educational levels;
· evaluation of various techniques and strategies that can be employed with the purpose of developing learner autonomy as well as examples of their practical application;
· developing resources serving the purpose of promoting learner autonomy;
· using information and computer technologies to develop learner autonomy;
· strategy training and the development of learner autonomy;
· learner autonomy, learning strategies and teaching various foreign language skills and subsystems;
· language policies of the Council of Europe and the development of autonomy;
· interdependence of learner and teacher autonomy;
· individual differences and the development of autonomy;
· methodology of research on learner autonomy.

Abstracts of proposed papers in the range of 200-300 words should be submitted by e-mail to konferencjaautonomia2012@gmail.com by March 20th, 2012. The proposals should include the title, name, affiliation, e-mail address and a short biographical note, about 60-80 words in length. Notifications of acceptance will be sent by April 10th, 2012.

PUBLICATION OF PAPERS
After the conference selected papers will be published in a peer-reviewed volume and efforts are currently under way to ensure that this will be done with a leading international publishing house. Further information concerning the publication as well as the submission guidelines will be sent after the conference.

VENUE
The venue for the event will be the Conference Center of State School of Higher Professional Education in Konin, Poland at Popiełuszki 4 St. where all the plenary and parallel sessions will be held and meals and refreshments will be served.

REGISTRATION AND CONFERENCE FEE
All the participants are requested to return the registration form and pay the conference fee by April 20th, 2012. The fee, which covers organization costs, conference materials, lunches and refreshments is 100 euro. We will be able to refund 50% of the fee before May 1st 2012 and after that date no refunds will be possible. The fee should be transferred to the following bank account:

Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa w Koninie
Ul. Przyjaźni 1
62-510 Konin
Kredyt Bank SA
BIC (SWIFT) CODE: KRDBPLPW
IBAN number: PL 65 1500 1461 1214 6004 7669 0000
The title of the payment: Autonomy 2012 + name of the participant

ACCOMMODATION
The participants are requested to book their own accommodation in the Konin Hotel which has consented to offer a discount on its regular room rates:
Hotel Konin, Al. 1 Maja 13, 62-510 Konin, Poland, tel. + 48 63 243 76 00
e-mail: recepcja@hotelkonin.pl

http://www.hotelkonin.pl/

Rooms available from May 7th to May 10th. Rates: single room 125-145 PLN (ca. 35 euro), double room 150-170 PLN (ca. 40 euro), triple room 205 PLN (cs. 50 euro). Breakfast is included in these prices. The name of the conference should be mentioned at the time of the booking.

For further information participants are requested to contact Conference Secretary:
dr Mariusz Kruk
Institute of Modern Languages
State School of Higher Professional Education
ul. Przyjaźni 1
62-510 Konin, Poland
tel. (63) 2497240
e-mail: konferencjaautonomia2012@gmail.com

Information about the Conference and important updates can also be found on the conference website https://sites.google.com/site/konferencjaautonomia/.

CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS
Professor Mirosław Pawlak (Adam Mickiewicz University) pawlakmi@amu.edu.pl

Head of the Organizing Committee

Developing learner autonomy in foreign language learning: Getting learners actively involved

9th September 2011
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Italy), Department of Linguistics and Comparative Cultural Studies
Place: Auditorium Santa Margherita, Campo Santa Margherita.

“Few teachers will disagree with the importance of helping language learners to become more autonomous as learners” (A. Wenden 1991).
But what is learner autonomy? How can we develop it in the linguistic field? How can we help learners to be responsible for their learning, to take decisions, to develop language and self-awareness day by day? The conference will give some answers.

This one-day event is organized by the Department of Linguistics and Comparative Cultural Studies of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Italy) in cooperation with LASIG (Learner Autonomy Special Interest Group) within Iatefl (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language). The aim of the event is to explore the different aspects connected to learner autonomy when approaching foreign language learning, reflecting on future development in research on learner autonomy and multilingualism, and trying to expose practical ideas to be used in class. Prestigious experts and scholars of learner autonomy and foreign language education will present suggestions and proposals with the intent of promoting learner autonomy research and practice, by creating an opportunity to share experiences and pedagogical implications to be adapted to learners of different age and competence.

For further details on the conference venue see the conference official websites:

http://venus.unive.it/ladils/

http://venice2011.wordpress.com/