“Language is a process of free creation; its laws and principles are fixed, but the manner in which the principles of generation are used is free and infinitely varied.”

(Noam Chomsky)

Welcome to “Redefining/Revitalizing Language Education through Intercultural Communication: from Technical/Digital Skills to Ethical Concerns in a data-driven Society”.

In this digital world, language educators and learners alike are grappling with the unstoppable creation of all sorts of digital technologies in a variety of forms. AI (Artificial Intelligence) is among us and here to stay, generating both excitement and concern. While innovative and diverse teaching methods and learning approaches are being explored, the issue of digital competence remains a crucial issue across the board. As global citizens, the sustainable and ethical use of these tools calls for our attention.

In an effort to keep up with the development of the European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Language Center of the University of Trieste invites language educators, scholars, and practitioners to discuss language teaching and learning in this new digital and intercultural era. The seminar is aimed at enhancing collaboration and networking across institutions. It also hopes to provide an opportunity to share language learning practices, promote discussion, and engage in further research.

We welcome papers on foreign language education in correlation with, but not limited to, any of the following:

Online language learning tools
AI (Artificial Intelligence) and language learning
Critical thinking skills
The digital divide
Soft skills
Inclusion
Multiculturalism
Intercultural communication
UN Sustainable Development Goals
This call invites proposals in Italian or English in one of the following two formats:

Traditional paper presentations
Pecha Kucha

Please specify choice of format in proposal.

Speakers will have 20 minutes to present their papers, followed by 10 minutes of discussion. Pecha Kucha format presentations should include 20 slides projected for 20 seconds each in max. 6 minutes and 40 seconds, followed by 10 minutes of discussion.

Proposals of max. 300 words are welcome from May 13th to July 31st. Notification of acceptance will be sent by September 1st.