Held under the banner of Circle U.’s Open Campus initiative, the event focused on how innovative research can address challenges in language teaching and learning, making a tangible impact in classrooms.
A collaborative success
Ferran Suñer, Academic Chair in the Multilingualism, Interculturality and Language Lab (CU.mil), and co-organizer of the event, shared his reflections: “Participants thoroughly enjoyed exchanging ideas on how research can make a real difference in language education,” he noted. One of the key goals of the program was to highlight research as a tool for tackling practical challenges faced by language teachers. "We can confidently say that we have substantially contributed to presenting research as a resource for educators,” Ferran added.
The summer school brought together a diverse array of speakers, both from within and beyond Circle U., to cover a wide range of expertise in language education. Ferran also acknowledged the crucial role Circle U. played in promoting the program, saying, "Circle U.'s communication channels helped raise the visibility of this initiative internationally." Building on this success, Ferran and his team are now developing a new course format for MA students in collaboration with Ute Smit from Vienna and Lisbeth Brevik from Oslo, ensuring the sustainability of the project.
Participant perspective
For participants like Ruyue Deng, a PhD student from Université Paris Cité, the summer school was an invaluable learning experience. Specializing in the didactics of French as a Foreign Language, Ruyue had enrolled to find a systematic approach to analyzing the large volume of data she collected for her research. “The courses and workshops offered me practical methods to tackle the methodological challenges I’ve encountered in my research,” she shared.
She emphasized how the summer school allowed her to explore new perspectives and provided inspiration for her current work. "Learning to take an ecological approach when conducting research in a language classroom opened new dimensions and research avenues for me,” Ruyue said. Additionally, the opportunity to exchange ideas with fellow doctoral students and researchers from around the world was, for her, a major highlight.
Looking ahead
The “Language in Education Research” summer school has proven to be a successful initiative for fostering research collaboration and providing practical tools for scholars in the field. As Circle U. continues to expand its educational offerings, the program stands as a testament to the alliance's commitment to bridging research with real-world impact, creating pathways for more effective language education across Europe.
