Language, identity, belonging: Raising aspirations in heritage language students
Join practitioners and academics to discuss effective strategies for supporting students who speak heritage languages in your school.
Language, identity, belonging: Raising aspirations in heritage language students
02 May 2025, 10:00 – 16:00
Experience shows that valuing their first language contributes to students’ sense of belonging and self-esteem. Linguistic skills and cultural capital foster community cohesion and ultimately contribute to economic growth.
The symposium will present findings from our latest school engagement work: the Raising Aspiration Project (RAP) and Proficiency in East European Languages (PEEL), runner-up at the 2022 UCL Widening Participation Community awards. The projects are run by UCL SSEES lecturers in collaboration with three secondary schools over four years, working with Romanian, Albanian, Bulgarian, and Ukrainian, and featuring guest languages, Spanish and Portuguese. We will hear insights from one of these secondary schools about their approach to supporting heritage language speakers.
During the day we will explore strategies to support and promote heritage languages, encourage the diverse array of heritage languages in UK schools, and establish practical steps for advocating for GCSE and A-Level courses in a wider range of languages.
Academic specialists on multilingualism and heritage languages, Vicky Macleroy, Sabine Little, Soofia Amin and Sophie Liggins will present and join in the practical workshops and discussions.
Join us for an inspiring discussion celebrating and supporting heritage languages in schools.
Contact person and main organiser Associate Prof Ramona Gonczol (r.gonczol@ucl.ac.uk)
N.B. please note that this event is for language practitioners and school reps. It is not suitable for students.
Day programme
10.00 Arrival
10.15 Start of symposium
Morning session
UCL project presentation
School and students partners presentation
Key speakers: Soofia Amin, Vicky MacLeroy, Sabine Little, Sophie Liggins
1.00 Lunch provided
Afternoon session
Small groups workshop: actions for supporting heritage & community language students
Speakers’ panel discussion + Q&A
3.45 Networking time
Directions to UCL East Marshgate Campus (right next to Helter Skelter and West Ham Stadium in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park):
Further information
Ticketing
Pre-booking essential
Cost
Free
Open to
All
Availability
Yes