HKU to hold the 9th International Conference on "Engaging with Language"

Language awareness (LA) is not an abstract concept. LA research and activity covers explicit knowledge about language in language learning and language teaching, awareness of the role of language and languages in the workplace, critical language awareness (focusing on the social and political nature of language and discourse), and LA in a multicultural and multilingual society. Over 280 registered participants of the Association for Language Awareness (ALA) from HK and around the world (a total of 35 countries) will participate in the 3-day Conference. It is the very first time to hold this biennial Conference in the Asia-Pacific region. The Conference will bring together researchers and practitioners to discuss and share research, theory and best practice relating to different aspects of engaging with language. The Conference is organized by ALA with the support of the HKU Constituent Theme "Languages, Media and Communication: Language in Education and Assessment".

Besides 11 colloquia, 13 workshops, 3 posters, 137 paper presentations, there will be 4 plenary discussions, under the themes of:
1) Otherwise Engaged: ELF and its Relevance for Language Awareness;
2) Co-habitation or Living Apart? Perspectives on the Relationship between Grammar and Skills Teaching;
3) Language Awareness in Hong Kong and Singapore; and
4) What Does it Mean to Be "Language Aware"?

The following presentations, among others in the programme, will provide a platform for discussion of issues and concerns specifically from Hong Kong perspectives:

1) "Women are Like Mud on the Ground" - Gender Awareness in Hong Kong Workplaces (12:20-12:50, June 26)

2) Engaging with Language: Teaching Chinese as a Second Language to South Asian Students in Hong Kong (15:10-15:40, June 26)

3) Linking Hong Kong Teachers' Language Awareness with the International Reading Literacy Study 2006 (17:20-17:50, June 26)

4) Language Awareness and Language Use of Pre- and In-service Teachers of English (10:35-11:05, June 27)

5) Working the ‘Place' of Languages in Clinical Dental Education (15:45-16:15, June 27)

6) What kind of formal language knowledge do non-native speaker teachers need? (9.00-10.40, June 28)

Members of the press are welcome to attend the Conference. The details are:

Date: June 26-28, 2008

Time:  9:00-17:50 (June 26, 2008)
            9:05-17:45 ( June 27, 2008)
            9:00-17:10 ( June 28, 2008)

Venue: Rayson Huang Theatre, HKU

Programme: Please visit https://www.hku.hk/clear/ala/programme.html

For any queries about the Conference, please contact Ms. Queenie Wong, Development and Communications Officer, Faculty of Education, HKU (Tel: 2219 4270 / mobile: 9220 5840 / fax: 2540 6360 / email: qlpwong@hku.hk)