Modern Languages Week 2018 – International Modern Languages Seminar: "Immersive Practices in Education"

May 16, 2018, 9:00 a.m. - May 18, 2018, 2:30 p.m.

From May 16 to 18, 2018, the international modern languages seminar "Immersive Practices in Education" will take place.  This seminar is intended for teachers from EMILE & Elysée 2020 schools in the Grenoble academy, primary and secondary school management staff, primary and secondary school trainers, teacher-researchers, and delegations from other academies.

The following speakers will participate in this seminar:

  • Gregg ROBERTS, immersion specialist in the USA
  • Marisa CAVALLI, University of Aosta Valley, Silva MINARDI, University of Siena, Cristina BOSISIO and Mario PASQUARIELLO, Catholic University of Milan (Italy)
  • Laurent GAJO, Lecturer and researcher, University of Geneva
  • Alice HENDERSON, University of Savoie-Mont-Blanc, and Coralie PAYRE-FICOUT, University of Grenoble-Alpes
  • Laurence METTEWIE, University of Namur, and Philippe HILIGSMANN, Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium)
  • Delegations from the Academies represented (Aix-Marseille, Nancy-Metz, Grenoble, etc.)

Wednesday, May 16

Chambéry/Jacob-Bellecombette Campus

  • 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. – Welcome reception for European and national delegations
  • 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Presentation by the academies on the progress of their language immersion projects
  • 1:45 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Presentation by the academies on the progress of their language immersion projects (continued)

Presidency of the University of Savoie Mont Blanc

  • 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Tour of the exhibition and publishers' fair
  • 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Lecture by Laurent GAJO, language educator, on "Building knowledge through bilingual education: the processes of languaging and translanguaging." 
  • 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. – Lecture by Gregg Roberts, coordinator of immersion programs for the Utah Department of Education and specialist in language immersion, on "Language immersion in the US: a response to economic needs."
  • 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Round table discussion: "Language skills, intercultural skills, and employability"
    This round table discussion will be an opportunity to compare points of view and discover practices known as immersive, which are not widely known to the general public. Immersive teaching has been emerging in France in recent years, particularly in our academy, which is a pioneer in this field. This type of teaching has long existed in other countries. How does it improve students' performance and future employability?

Thursday, May 17 – Chambéry/Jacob-Bellecombette Campus

  • 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. – Seminar opens
  • 9:30–9:45 a.m. – Multilingual choir
  • 9:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. – Conferences
    • 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. – Gregg ROBERTS (USA): "Monolingualism, illiteracy in the 21st century"
    • 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. – Marisa CAVALLI (University of Aosta Valley): "Analysis of the challenges and implementation of bi-/multilingual education: the case of the Aosta Valley."
    • 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. – Silva MINARDI (University of Siena): "Between languages and content – the Italian experience of CLIL."
  • 12:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Lunch and linguistic and musical interludes
    • During the lunch break, participants in the language seminar will be able to enjoy activities organized by USMB language teachers. The program includes Scottish dance lessons, language games and quizzes, an exhibition of student work (journals, magazines, videos, files, posters, etc.), and a pop/rock music listening session.
  • 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Conferences
    • 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Alice HENDERSON (University of Savoie Mont Blanc) and Coralie PAYRE-FICOUT (University of Grenoble-Alpes): "CLIL in the Grenoble Academy: results of an online survey of teachers involved in the program."
    • 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Cristina BOSISIO and Mario PASQUARIELLO (Catholic University of Milan): "CLIL and micro-teaching: the Italian experience between training and research"
    • 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Laurence METTEWIE (University of Namur) and Philippe HILIGSMANN (Catholic University of Louvain): "Linguistic, cognitive, and socio-affective evaluation of CLIL in French-speaking Belgium: initial findings."
  • 6:00 p.m. – Guided tour of the city of Chambéry with tour guides

Friday, May 18 

  • From 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Visit to schools and educational institutions participating in EMILE (7 elementary schools and 2 middle schools) and schools participating in Elysée 2020 (2 preschools)
    • Maurienne district: Aristide Briand school, Saint-Jean de Maurienne (two first-grade classes)
    • Albertville district: Saint-Sigismond nursery school, Albert Bar elementary school, and Combe de Savoie middle school in Albertville (from preschool to 7th grade)
    • Chambéry District 4: Saint Baldoph nursery and elementary schools, La Concorde nursery and elementary schools in Barberaz, and Jules Ferry Middle School in Chambéry (from preschool to 8th grade)
    • Chambéry District 1: Haut-Mâché Preschool and Waldeck Rousseau Preschool in Chambéry (from preschool to kindergarten)
  • From 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Lycée Vaugelas – Closing of the seminar, presentation by the General Inspectorate and DGESCO

about Modern Languages Week

Designed to highlight languages and linguistic diversity in schools and educational institutions, as well as outside the school setting, this event is a key moment for encouraging language learning. It is aimed at all elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as their families and the general public. The theme chosen for 2018 is "Let's dare to speak languages, from kindergarten to university." Held every year in May, this week aims to raise public awareness of the linguistic diversity that exists in France and the advantages of learning modern languages. It also aims to encourage people to learn and use them.

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