Call for Proposals

Fourth International Conference on Language Immersion Education

Immersion 2012:
Bridging Contexts for a Multilingual World

    October 18-20, 2012
    Crowne Plaza Hotel
    St. Paul, Minnesota

Conference Description

Language immersion education continues to evolve as a highly effective program model for launching students on the road to bi- and multilingualism and intercultural competence. School-based immersion programs commit to a minimum of 50% subject-matter schooling through a second, world, heritage, or indigenous language at the preschool and elementary levels with varying amounts of subject-based language learning support throughout secondary and post-secondary education. Program models include one-way world language immersion, two-way bilingual immersion, and indigenous/heritage immersion for language and culture revitalization. While each model targets distinct sociocultural contexts and educational needs, all embrace language, literacy and culture development through subject matter learning.

Under the leadership of the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, University of Minnesota (CARLA), the fourth international conference on immersion education brings these models together to engage in research-informed dialogue and professional exchange across languages, levels, learner audiences, and sociopolitical contexts.

CARLA is currently seeking proposals for papers, discussion sessions, and symposia on aspects of language immersion education related to four conference themes:

Theme 1:  Immersion Pedagogy and Assessment
Theme 2:  Culture, Identity, and Community
Theme 3:  Program Design, Leadership, and Evaluation
Theme 4:  Policy, Advocacy, and Communications

In addition to basic, applied and evaluation research, conference organizers welcome a range of practitioner perspectives including immersion teachers, administrators, curriculum coordinators, parents and specialists who work in immersion programs. Papers, presentations, discussion sessions, and symposia may report on data-based research, theoretical and conceptual analyses, or best practices in language immersion classrooms.

Types of Sessions

Symposia (2 hours): A symposium provides an opportunity for a group of individuals (typically three to five) to propose a specific issue or topic in the field of language immersion education and examine it from a variety of perspectives. Total presentation time is limited to one hour to ensure that the second hour of the session engages presenters and the symposia participants in extended dialogue.

Paper/Best Practice Sessions (1 hour): A paper involves a presentation on a topic related to one of the four themes. A best practice session is an opportunity for teachers, administrators, program coordinators, and parents to present exemplary classroom and program practices that relate to the conference themes. Papers/best practice sessions include 45 minutes for presentation followed by 15 minutes of questions and discussion.

Discussion Sessions (1 hour): Discussion Sessions address a topic best pursued through extended dialogue among participants. These sessions will begin with a brief (10 minute) informal presentation; the remaining 50 minutes will be devoted to discussion moderated by the presenter/facilitator.

Submission Guidelines

The deadline for submissions has now passed. 
Thank you for your interest in the conference.

 

 

Proposals must be submitted online and include the following:

• Abstract (200-word maximum) of your paper, session, or symposium for submission and summary for the printed program (50-word maximum).
  
  
• Contact information for all presenters for symposia or presentations with more than 1 presenter, even though information regarding the proposal will only be sent to the first (lead) presenter listed.

Important Information:

• Audio/visual equipment: a data projector and screen will be provided in each room, and an overhead projector by prior request. Please note: Presenters will need to bring their own laptop, or pay for renting other requested items such as a TV/VCR or Internet access.
  
  
• Lead presenters will be responsible for contacting all co-presenters with information concerning the conference presentations.

Proposal Review

A team of reviewers will evaluate each submission based on pre-determined criteria: scholarly/educational significance, theoretical orientation (if applicable), quality of research/practice, and manner of presentation.

Submission Form

The deadline has now passed.  Thank you for your interest in the conference.

Questions?

If you have questions about the conference or the content of your proposal please email conference assistant, Amy Young (immconf at umn dot edu).

If you are having technical difficulty with the submission form please email the CARLA Technology Coordinator, Marlene Johnshoy (johnshoy at umn dot edu).

If you are not planning to submit a proposal to present at the conference, but wish to receive the conference brochure, please make sure to sign up for our mailing list.