LESLLA (Literacy Education and Second Language Learning for Adults) invites all adult literacy researchers, practitioners, applied linguists, and volunteers committed to the advancement of LESLLA research, practice, and policy to submit proposals for LESLLA’s 21st Annual Symposium, which will be held in Québec City (Canada).

LESLLA’s mission is to support adults (i.e., learners age 15+) who are learning to read and write for the first time in their lives in a new language. With its annual symposium and vibrant online community, LESLLA promotes the sharing of research findings, effective pedagogical practices, and information on policy. The 2025 symposium will be hybrid: virtual and in-person events and presentations will showcase theoretical and practice-based themes, as well as panel discussions and poster sessions.

Proposals should mobilize themes impacting LESLLA learners and teachers, linking to research on second language and literacy learning/teaching in the LESLLA context, teacher learning, or policies. The general theme for the 21stsymposium is Travailler ensemble - Working Together. We welcome contributions related, but not limited to:

  • L2 acquisition for LESLLA learners
  • Translanguaging and plurilingual approaches and LESLLA learners
  • Minority/heritage languages and LESLLA learners
  • Literacy development of LESLLA learners in L1 or L2
  • Multimodality and multiple literacies with LESLLA learners
  • Health literacy and LESLLA learners
  • Teaching tools including Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for LESLLA learners
  • Role of volunteers in language and literacy support in LESLLA teaching and learning contexts
  • Professional development, teacher education, and/or volunteer teacher training to work with LESLLA learners
  • Assessment and placement of LESLLA students
  • LESLLA learners’ inclusion in hosting contexts
  • Policies impacting LESLLA learners
  • Refugees and asylum seekers in LESLLA contexts
  • Task-based language teaching and LESLLA learners

Session Type Descriptions

  • Virtual sessions (June 4, 2025):
    • Paper Presentation (30 minutes): A 20-minute Zoom synchronous presentation followed by a 10-minute period for questions and discussion.

  • In-Person sessions (June 5-6, 2025):
    • Paper Presentation (30 minutes): A 20-minute presentation followed by a 10-minute period for questions and discussion.
    • Workshop (60 minutes): Presenters will introduce a topic followed by hands-on activities for participants. Questions or discussions must be planned during the 60 minutes time frame, if presenters wish to hold them.
    • Poster Session: Brief presentation and informal discussion with session attendees. Posters will be available for 60 minutes.
    • Panel Session (60 minutes): A moderator will introduce a topic and ask prepared questions to a group of up to 4 presenters. Each presenter will observe a time limit to answer questions. The panel will then discuss questions coming from the audience, and the moderator will end the session with closing remarks based on the discussion.
    • Works-in-Progress (30 minutes): A 10-minute presentation followed by a 20-minute period for feedback and discussion. This format provides a space for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, teacher trainers, and students to share ongoing or planned research projects and get feedback from the LESLLA community.

Evaluation criteria

An effective proposal will:

  • Be directly relevant to the LESLLA context, as described above
  • Offer the promise of new knowledge or point of view
  • Stimulate discussion
  • Be focused, well-written, and clearly organized
  • (Panel Discussion only) Include a moderator and at least two (2) confirmed panelists

The abstract must be a maximum of 300 words excluding references. To submit your proposal, please fill out this form. The abstracts can be written in either French or English.

Submissions will be evaluated by two reviewers in an anonymous review process.

Deadline:

Deadline for submission: November 1st, 2024.

Notification of acceptance: December 6th, 2024.

Please email leslla2025@gmail.com with questions about proposals or the submission and review process.

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