CALL and the Learner
An AILA Research Network
You have found the AILA Research Network for CALL and the Language Learner. On this website you can read about our activities, conferences, and publications and contribute to research. Join us as as free member to be able to submit papers and contribute to our AILA symposium in Beijing.
A very interesting-sounding conference! And great to see that the conference fee is waived for accepted speakers.
Mobile learning and autonomy in second language acquisition
> Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha
> Departamento de Filología Moderna
> Facultad de Humanidades
> TOLEDO, Spain
> 17th, 18th & 19th September, 2009
>
> Under the impact of ICTs in general and portable technologies in particular,
> mLearning (mobile learning) is becoming a vibrant variety of e-learning. In
> close connection with its disciplinary neighbours like CALL, CMC or Distance
> Learning, mLearning is challenging conventional teaching-and-learning
> practices, thereby becoming a fundamental area for future developments of
> autonomy and independence in second language acquisition.
>
> In this context, the EU-funded Lingua Projects EUROPODIANS (Language Courses
> for Mobile Technologies) and AMICITIAS (Ambient Intelligence as a Compelling
> Instructional Tool for Interlinguistic and Intercultural Skills) will be
> hosting a conference in the city of Toledo (Spain) on 18-20 September 2009.
> This conference invites 20-minute sessions addressing the connections between
> mLearning devices (iPods, PDAs, mobile phones, portable computers, etc.) and
> self-directed learning. The symposium will become a forum to share
> developments and experiences about theories, approaches, principles and
> applications of mLearning, with a especial emphasis on the application of
> mLearning for second language acquisition in general and learner autonomy in
> particular.
>
> Although other topics may be considered, we welcome paper proposals dealing
> with, but not being limited to, issues such as the following:
>
>
>
> 1. Theorizing mobile learning within second-language acquisition.
>
> 2. Mobile learning and its disciplinary neighbours: ICT-based Learning,
> CALL, Distance Learning, Lifelong Learning, Autonomy and Independence in
> language learning.
>
> 3. Mobile learning and its potential for blended learning programmes.
>
> 4. Portable technologies and their integration within conventional
> face-to-face tuition practices.
>
> 5. Mobile learning devices and language-learning virtual platforms.
>
> 6. The potential of portable technologies for the teaching and learning
> of culture.
>
> THE CITY OF TOLEDO:
> The conference will take place in the magnificent city of Toledo, World
> Heritage Site. The former capital of the Spanish Empire, and the place of
> co-existence of Christian, Jewish and Moorish cultures in the medieval
> period, is today a most culturally and monumentally rich tourist destination
> in Spain, attracting millions of visitors every year. Toledo is conveniently
> located, only 35 minutes from Madrid on the frequent high-speed trains
> servicing the city. The conference venue will be the Palace of Padilla in
> Toledo, located in the historic centre of Toledo.
>
> IMPORTANT DATES:
31st July, 2009: Submission of ABSTRACTS. Please send 250-word abstracts
> to: <JavierEnrique.Diaz@uclm.es> or <Eduardo.Gregorio@uclm.es> Please indicate
> your full name, address and affiliation.
> § August 15th, 2009: Notification of acceptance.
> § 17th, 18th & 19th September, 2009: Conference dates.
>
> KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
> Marie-Noëlle Lamy (The Open University, UK)
> David Robison (University of Bradford, UK)
>
> PUBLICATION:
> Selected papers will be published in a volume after the conference.
> CONFERENCE LANGUAGES:
>
> Although the official language of the symposium will be English, papers in
> other major languages are welcomed.
> CONFERENCE CONVENORS:
>
> Javier Enrique Díaz-Vera & Eduardo de Gregorio-Godeo
> ORGANISING COMMITTEE:
> María del Mar Ramón Torrijos, Helena Aikin, Edel Porter, Rafael Cruz
> González & José Miguel Alcolado Carnicero
> REGISTRATION:
> Regular registration - 100 euros
> Students' Fee - 30 euros
> Accepted speakers - Free of charge.
> ENQUIRIES may be sent to: <mobilearn@uclm.es <mailto:mobilearn@uclm.es> >
> <Eduardo.Gregorio@uclm.es <mailto:Eduardo.Gregorio@uclm.es> > or
> <JavierEnrique.Diaz@uclm.es <mailto:JavierEnrique.Diaz@uclm.es> >
>
> FURTHER INFORMATION: <http://www.uclm.es/actividades/2009/mobilearn
> <https://web.mail.uclm.es/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://web.mail.uclm.es/
> exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.uclm.es/actividades/2009/mobilearn>
> (currently under construction).
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Background of the ReN
Through the emergence of communication technologies, the past few years have produced a new body of research where the learner is given a more central role in a range of different ways, including having the learner express their opinions through blogging (e.g., Pinkman, 2005) or computer-mediated communication such as chat (e.g., Darhower, 2007), tailoring software that adapts to learners’ needs (e.g., Huang & Liou 2007), training learners to use existing software more effectively to facilitate the social-affective aspect of learning (e.g., Hubbard, 2004), or the development of learner autonomy (e.g. Reinders, 2007; White, 2007). Social networking sites such as Active Worlds and Second Life have also empowered learners to make decisions about who they wish to converse with, by what mode (i.e., text chat or oral communication), and freely engage in discussion with a real audience who shares similar interests (e.g., Dudeney, 2008). This is a growth area, where researchers examine the way technology facilitates interaction between teachers and learners, between native speakers and learners, and between learners themselves and the unique characteristics of this type of communication.
Convenors Hayo Reinders and Glenn Stockwell have combined to create an AILA Research Network which aims to bring together people working in the different areas related to the role of the language learner in CALL. Committee members are established researchers in the field of CALL, and
include Jozef Colpaert (University of Antwerp, Belgium)
Phil Hubbard (Stanford University, USA)
Hsien-Chin Liou (National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan)
Kazunori Nozawa (Ritsumeikan University, Japan)
and Cynthia White (Massey University, New Zealand).