PLL2022

Cape Breton, Canada

The fourth international Psychology of Language Learning conference (PLL4) was held at Cape Breton University in Canada, 23rd – 25th June 2022. The conference was held both online and in-person.

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The conference theme was inspired by the physical location of PLL4, where massive ocean currents shape the seasons and the rising and falling waves affect our day-to-day lives. The psychology of language learning has its own currents and waves - long running currents of thought shape our thinking about languages, how they are learned and used, and the ways in which movements in language, people and cultures flow with each other. We also see waves of thinking emerging from new directions in the study of languages, exciting developments that rise and fall.

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The theme was meant to communicate both stability and change. Currents suggest large-scale patterns and waves implicating localized and fast changing processes. The notion of waves also suggest looking at the phenomena that are visible on the surface with currents running deep below. The conference theme inspired broad questions such as the following:

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• What are the currents of thought that influence languages and cultures?

• What are the waves of change sweeping over language education?

• How do we sustain the waves of motivation and facilitating emotion that learners experience?

• How do we alter the currents of thinking to expand our theoretical and methodological perspectives?

• How can educational institutions identify and respond to the changing tides we see all around us?

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Plenary speakers:

• Jean-Marc Dewaele

• Sarah Mercer

• Tammy Gregersen

• Luke Plonsky

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Plenary Symposium Tribute to Zoltán Dörnyei

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