Foreign Language Learning Leading to Bilingualism

De l'apprentissage d'une langue étrangère au bilinguisme

Conférence en anglais avec Anne Marie de Mejia de l'université de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombie   

 Mardi 11 décembre 2012

• Abstract :

This presentation will focus on the relationships between foreign language learning and bilingualism. We will begin by considering what it means to be bilingual and discuss some common myths associated with this notion. We will then examine in some detail the importance of codeswitching as a pedagogical resource in foreign language teaching and learning, showing how teachers can help their students become bilingual by drawing on their two (or more) languages. We will end by discussing ways in which students can be helped to take a more active role in their path towards bilingualism, looking at the use of language learning strategies and the role of collaborative learning.

• Biography :

Anne-Marie de Mejía, holds a Ph.D in Linguistics in the area of Bilingual Education from Lancaster University and an M.A in Applied English Linguistics from Birmingham University. She works at the Centro de Investigación y Formación en Educación at Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, where she is the Director of the Doctoral Programme in Education. Her research interests include bilingual classroom interaction, processes of empowerment and bilingual teacher development. Her recent publications include Bilingual Education in South America (Multilingual Matters, 2005), Empowerment. Empoderamiento y Procesos de Construcción Curricular Bilingüe, together with Harvey Tejada and Sol Comenares (Universidad del Valle, 2006), Forging Multilingual Spaces, together with Christine Hélot (Multilingual Matters, 2008), Empowering Teachers across Cultures, together with Christine Hélot (Multilingual Matters, 2011) and Bilingüismo en el Contexto Colombiano (Ediciones Uniandes, 2011) . She has also published academic articles in the field of bilingual classroom processes and bilingual curriculum development and has coordinated a research project sponsored by the Colombian National Ministry of Education into the state of the art of bilingual education in different regions in Colombia, as well as a diagnostic study about the conditions and needs of three bilingual public schools in Bogotá in their transition towards bilingualism.