Multilingual Learning and Transnational Networks in HE in English-dominant and EMI settings: What bi/multilingual and transnational students learn from each other beyond the classroom
Birkbeck, University of London
November 14th 2014
Aside from their formal tuition, university students spend considerable amounts of their time in interactions with their peers outside the setting of the classroom. For bi/ multilingual students these interactions involve making use of diverse linguistic repertoires and transnational resources. What impact does this multilingual, transnational, and transcultural interaction have on these students’ knowledge construction and identity development during and beyond their university years? How can this linguistically diverse interactional space be used as a useful resource by HEIs in English-dominant and EMI settings? What are the implications of linguistic diversity for the internationalisation agenda in HE? The seminar explores questions such as these, with interactive discussions with scholars with an interest in bi/ multilingualism, bi/ multilingual postgraduate research students and early career researchers and staff who are responsible for and experienced with the learning and welfare of international students.
Presenters
- Siân Preece (UCL IOE), Introduction to the Seminar
- Li Wei (UCL IOE) and Zhu Hua (Birkbeck), Beyond Contact Hours: What do multilingual and transnational students do and learn outside the classroom? (Abstract & Presentation)
- Lin Pan (John Adams Research Fellow, UCL IOE), “I am not becoming British — I am just more International”: reflection on identity changes while studying and working in London (Abstract & Presentation)
- Tinghe Jin (International Office, UCL IOE), Learning beyond the boundaries: Making the most of diversity in a British university (Abstract & Presentation)
- Lesley Gourlay (Head of CCM Department, Director of the Academic Writing Centre) and Mike Winter (International Office, UCL IOE), Internationalisation policy and curriculum practice: critique and challenges (Abstract)
- Hilary Davies (Royal Literary Fund Fellow, poet and translator), ‘No Man is an Island’ (Abstract & Presentation)
- Patsy Duff (University of British Colombia), Discussant
Seminar Report
This report presents a summary of the main themes which emerged from the first in The Multilingual University seminar series. The overarching aim of these seminars is set out on The Multilingual University website. It is hoped open discussion of issues related to multilingualism in HE settings will allow all those involved in the sector to engage with this subject, to acknowledge the challenges raised and to recognise the benefits to be drawn from this trend. Such discussion seems especially apposite given the increasing interest in multilingualism in HE. You can download the full report of seminar 1 below:
The Multilingual University 