The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA): Upcoming Conferences.

Immersion 2012: Bridging Contexts for a Multilingual World

Fourth International Conference on Language Immersion Education

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

Language immersion education continues to evolve as a uniquely constituted, 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 immersion for language and culture revitalization. While each model targets distinct sociocultural contexts and educational needs, all embrace language and culture development through subject matter learning. This 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. Four themes provide the framework for discussion:

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

Featured Plenary Speakers

• Donna Christian, Senior Fellow, Center for Applied Linguistics, USA
• Ester de Jong, Associate Professor, School of Teaching and Learning, University of Florida
• Timoti Kāretu, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Director, Te Panikiretanga o te Reo Māori [Institute of Excellence in the Māori Language]
• Roy Lyster, Professor, Department of Integrated Studies in Education, McGill University
• Merrill Swain, Professor Emeritus, Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

Conference planning committee chair: Tara Fortune (CARLA). Committee members: Heidi Bernal (Adams Spanish Immersion Magnet, Saint Paul Public Schools), Nicole Boudreaux (Lafayette Parish Foreign Language Immersion Programs), Helena Curtain (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Ann Marie Gunther (NC Department of Public Instruction), Ana Hernandez (CA State University San Marcos), Brian McInnes (University of Minnesota- Duluth, MN), Kathleen Mitchell (University of Minnesota), Silvia Romero-Johnson (Nuestro Mundo Community School, Madison, WI), Julie Sugarman (Center for Applied Linguistics), Sandra Talbot (Utah State Office of Education), Diane Tedick (University of Minnesota), Ofelia Wade (Utah State Office of Education), Alysse Weinberg (University of Ottawa), Molly Wieland (Hopkins Public Schools), Amy Young (University of Minnesota).