Conference 2024: Mercator European Research Centre

Mercator International Conference

7-8 November 2024, Ljouwert/Leeuwarden (NL)

Shaping Policy for Minority Languages and Multilingualism

The Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning, hosted by the Fryske Akademy, invites you to participate in the Mercator International Conference on the theme of Shaping Policy for Minority Languages and Multilingualism.

The aim of this conference is to provide a platform for and to stimulate critical discussions on policy development for minority languages and multilingualism in various contexts, from the home to education. We invite presentations that examine language policies, practices, ideologies, and attitudes at all levels (international, national, regional, societal, institutional, group, family, and individual). We welcome proposals for presentations from people of all career stages that engage with the themes of the conference. Postgraduate students and early career researchers are particularly encouraged to participate.

Plenary speakers

Interactive workshop

7 November 2024, 16–17:00 (CET)

We are happy to announce that Joana Duarte (professor of educational sciences, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen) and Francis Flapper (Director, IKC Sint Jozefschool) will be leading an inspiring, interactive workshop at our conference on Shaping Policy for Minority Languages and Multilingualism. Their workshop is titled "How practitioners value minority languages and multilingualism in Frisian schools" and will take place on 7 November 2024, 16–17:00 (CET).
During the workshop, questions that still challenge practitioners in their daily efforts to support linguistically diverse learners will be explored, such as: how do I cater for languages that I do not speak myself? What strategies can I employ to foster literacy in my pupils’ home languages? And how can I engage multilingual parents more effectively?
Are you a teacher and interested in participating? Then you can join this workshop in-person for free! Register at https://bit.ly/3W0T8pb.