FIPLV/NBR Conference “Future of Languages”

04-14-2020 at 1:31 PM

COVID-19

Dear all.

The unfolding corona virus (COVID-19) crisis has significantly affected all our lives in the past few weeks. As authorities work to contain the spread of the virus, many national and international events have been postponed. Due to continued uncertainties, the organizers of the conference, Future of Languages 2020, due to take place in Reykjavík, Iceland, this coming June, have decided to postpone the event until next summer.

The NBR/FIPLV biannual conference Future of Languages will therefore be held in Reykjavík, Iceland, June 10 and 11, 2021. The published program and registrations will be transferred to the 2021 event. 

By January 2021, the organizers will re-send the call for papers and request re-confirmation from registered participants who have already paid. Accepted papers will also be transferred to next year’s conference.

Should participants wish to withdraw from the conference, 75% of the registration fee will be refunded. The remaining 25% will cover expenses already incurred. For a refund, please write to foflanguages@hi.is before May 31, 2020.

We regret that it has come to this, but we must consider participants’ health and well-being. We look forward to welcoming you to Iceland in 2021.

With best regards.

Dr. Hólmfríður Garðarsdóttir
President of STÍL
Chair of the organizing committee

Call for Papers

The conference Future of Languages will take place in Reykjavík, Iceland, in 2020. The venue is at the University of Iceland, “Veröld – the home of Vigdís” building, named after Iceland´s former president, Madame Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the first and only UNESCO Ambassador of Languages. The program will be partly theoretical and partly practical as we join forces to learn from each other’s experiences and practices, while simultaneously gaining knowledge about future perspectives and challenges. Panels will be organized in different languages, even if English will be the main language of communication.

The daily program will open and close with a plenary lecture, while numerous parallel sessions will operate simultaneously within the same building. Suggestions for outstanding speakers are still welcomed (send to holmfr@hi.is).Schedule

October 15 – Last day for submitting abstracts (infovigdis@hi.is / Subject: NBR abstract)

November 15 – Last day for notification of acceptance

January 30 – Draft Program / Registration / Practical Details

March 30 – Final Program / Practical Details

May 15 – Last Circular Letter

June 11/12 – Conference Dates

Regarding “Future of Languages”

For decades scientists have confirmed that at least half of the world´s population is bilingual (Grosjean, 1984/2010) – while a third is considered multilingual. Simultaneously, one of the world’s 7000 language goes extinct every other week. The case of Iceland and its population of 340.000 inhabitants falls somewhere in between, making it quite fitting that the NBR conference on the Future of Languages be organized in on the island. The official language, Icelandic, is spoken daily by most, the school system from pre-school to university is conducted primarily in Icelandic, the language of administration, arts and sciences is Icelandic, while English has been gaining grounds in higher education and business the last few years.

The conference will give teachers of languages and others interested in its theme an opportunity to simultaneously evaluate the past, re-evaluate the present and consider the future of languages, language learning and teaching, as well as policy making – keeping the Baltic and Nordic educational authorities particularly in mind.

Abstracts

Proposals for presentations should be submitted prior to October 15, 2019. Please include: Name, affiliation, title and language of communication, followed by a short description of content. Maximum 200 words. Please send to: infovigdis@hi.is / Subject: NBR abstract.

Topics of interests

  • What are the roles of systematic language learning and teaching?
  • What languages to teach in near future / long term?
  • Means to promote language learning and cultural literacy?
  • How to teach languages / to whom / where and when?
  • What are the main challenges / what are we good at?
  • How can language teachers contribute to …:
    • Educational and school authorities…?
    • Society / community / humanity ?