About the conference

The origins of Applied Linguistics were in the application of linguistic understandings to a wide range of contexts and issues. In the past decades the field has moved beyond relating language to social contexts to a dynamic approach to language addressing issues such as difference, access and disparity. It has become a more open field of interest in language involving an increasingly interactive approach between social and political contexts, language and research approaches.

The rapid worldwide increase in migration and reactions to it, the expansion of media and technology, political changes at international and local levels are both challenges and opportunities for research in applied linguistics. At the same time constraints such as market economy-driven research funding and greater central control of research agendas have limited the ability of the field to respond.

The theme of this conference, Making a Difference, whilst drawing on earlier characterisations of Applied Linguistics, is intended to link emergent theoretical and research approaches to issues in language education, language in the workplace and other fields, language testing, second language development, language policy and planning, bi-/multilingualism and other traditional areas of concern.

About the conference venue

The City of Wollongong is located just 80km south of Sydney on a spectacular stretch of the southern New South Wales coast. Wollongong's natural environment includes some of the most pristine beaches in Australia and the escarpment to the west offers a great network of walking trails and dazzling views of the coastline.

The University of Wollongong is a university of international standing with an enviable record of achievement in teaching and research. It is twice named Australia's University of the Year* - in 1999-2000 for its outstanding research and development partnerships and in 2000-2001 for preparing its students for the e-world.

The conference is hosted by the Centre for Research in Language and Literacy (CRILL), a collaborative forum for researchers across the campus working in Applied Linguistics, Languages, Literacy and TESOL.

Cocktail Party

The Cocktail Party will be held from 5.30-7.00pm on the overlap day between the two conferences (1st July) – a farewell for the ASFLA delegates and a welcome for the ALAA delegates. It will be a chance for the participants in both conferences to mingle and catch up.

There is no charge to attend the Cocktail Party if you have registered for the Full Conference, but for catering purposes, please indicate your attendance on the Registration form.

Conference Dinner

The ALAA Conference Dinner will be held at the Conference Venue on 2nd July.

Cost for the dinner is $55.00 per person. Partners and friends are most welcome to join us. Bookings must be made on the Registration form.

Conference organizing committee

The conference is being organised in conjunction with the annual conference of the Systemic Functional Linguistics Association which will run from 29th June to July 1st with one joint day with the ALAA conference.  The local conference organizing committee is drawn from NSW universities:

Dr. Ken Cruickshank (Co-Convenor, University of Wollongong)
Dr Honglin Chen (Co-Convenor, University of Wollongong)
Assoc Prof Bev Derewianka (University of Wollongong)
Assoc Prof Jenny Hammond (University of Technology, Sydney)
Dr. Antonia Rubino (Sydney University)
Prof. Anne Burns (Macquarie University)
Dr. Debra Aarons (University of NSW)
Dr. Liz Ellis (University of New England)

CONFERENCE CHOICE SURVEY

http://panorama.som.surrey.ac.uk/respondent/start