Migration and Language-Learning: Histories, Approaches, Policies

‘what sorow is for them that be refugiate in a strange countrey, when they can not understand the language of that place in whiche they be exiled: and when they can not make them to be understood by speach to the inhabiters of that contrey, wherein they be retired’
– Jacques Bellot, 1586

The histories of migration and language-learning are closely intertwined. In this British Academy Rising Star engagement workshop, to be held at the University of Leeds, an interdisciplinary group of early career researchers (ECRs) working on migration and language-learning in historical perspective will engage with individuals and organisations working on language education, policy, and activism in the context of migration today. This workshop aims to bring together participants from a variety of fields, working on periods from antiquity to the present day, in order to stimulate new conversations and new relationships within and beyond the academy.
As well as two days of discussion, there will be an evening dumpling-making workshop on 23rd February with Heart & Parcel, a Manchester organisation who offer ESOL teaching to migrant women through cooking classes. On 24th February, there will be a public event – open to all – with a number of authors from The Good Immigrant essay collection: Nikesh Shukla, Kieran Yates, and Inua Ellams.
A travel & accommodation subsidy of £75 is available to early career researchers attending the conference but not presenting a paper.
Further information, including programme: https://migrationandlanguage.leeds.ac.uk/