As an update to my post from last week, I have returned from my conference and networking trip to Ireland. Here are a few highlights
- I was able to meet with someone from the Study Abroad office and learn about the structure of their education program and international programs. The challenges are similar – their students are in a fixed program and it would take some creative thinking to accommodate an international experience such as Teaching Across Borders (TAB). However, I don’t see this as a stop sign, rather than a time to yield and reflect.
- I presented on some initial research on blogging, as a preparation for future research on the use of the Ning blog for reflection during the TAB program.
- I networked with several scholars in applied and educational linguistics.
- I learned that my research on the linguistic landscape of the classroom is being read by graduate students at a university in Israel.
- I reconnected with Aiofe Lenihan, the person who had originally said “You should come to Limerick some day” and learned about her research on Facebook and how it overlaps with mine.
- I discussed future research ideas with Francis Hult, who was the external examiner on my dissertation committee and the person who introduced me to nexus analysis and linguistic landscape analysis.
- I learned that Bernard Spolsky is doing a series on language policy management in former colonies. His work on Brazil makes a helpful addition to the body of work that colleagues and I are looking at in our comparative study on conceptualizations of diversity between Canada and Brazil.
- On top of all of this, I had a chance to experience Limerick. The conference providers arranged Irish dancers at the Monday evening BBQ, I toured the town and King John’s castle, and enjoyed the friendly hospitality of the local people.
It was a full and rewarding trip. I look forward to traveling to Ireland again some day with more time to see the countryside.