Call for papers

for

THE INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE CONFERENCE

ON

THE IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING PROFESSIONAL FOREIGN

LANGUAGES FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CULTURES

WILL BE HELD AT

THE FACULTY OF LOGISTICS, MARIBORSKA CESTA 7, CELJE, SLOVENIA

ON 24 AND 25 SEPTEMBER, 2009

Nowadays mastering foreign languages is considered to be one of the key

competences of nearly all contemporary European professions. In accordance with

the Lisbon strategy, the European Union is aiming at building a knowledge society,

which should bring it the global competitive advantage; in this context the

knowledge of professional foreign languages contributes to greater staff mobility

and employability. In order to successfully conduct business activities, professional

foreign languages should be adapted to work places of each individual and to their

specific needs for continuous consolidation and upgrading, also promoted by the

lifelong learning concept. Furthermore, knowledge of languages is of utmost

importance for establishing successful communication among nations of diverse

ethnic, cultural and language backgrounds, and it adds to raising intercultural

awareness.

Teaching professional foreign languages is thus an important contribution to a broad

and applicable knowledge of graduates and it enables mobility in a common

European higher education environment. The Faculty of Logistics at the University of

Maribor is organizing an International language conference on the “Importance of

Learning Professional Foreign Languages for Communication between Cultures” on

24 and 25 September 2009. The aim of the conference is to present and exchange

professional knowledge and experiences from the field of teaching professional

foreign languages. The conference is aimed at academics, professional foreign

language teachers at higher education institutions, further education and secondary

schools, researchers, assistants as well as students.

We therefore invite you to submit proposals for papers or workshops which will be

delivered in English or one of the following world languages - German, Italian or

French – provided that at least 5 conference participants register for a

presentation/workshop. Possible themes include, but are not limited to:

- the Bologna process in a professional foreign language course,

- modern approaches to teaching with the emphasis on competences,

- the role of intended learning incomes (ILOs) in achieving competences,

- intercultural dimension of teaching and learning professional foreign languages,

- modern methods/approaches used in teaching professional foreign languages,

- modern approach to teaching grammar in teaching professional foreign

languages,

- developing language skills in teaching professional foreign languages,

- assessment and grading in teaching professional foreign languages,

- preparation of glossaries of professional terminology and materials for teaching

professional foreign languages,

- the impact of modern technology on teaching professional foreign languages,

- e-learning and blended learning in teaching and learning professional foreign

languages,

- the importance of foreign professional languages in the global environment.

Abstract submission

Those interested in presenting a paper or offering a workshop at the aforementioned

conference “The Importance of Learning Professional Foreign Languages for the

Communication between Cultures” should submit an abstract in English of no more

than 250-300 words and send it to int.conference@uni-mb.si by no later than

Monday, 4 May 2009. Abstracts should include title, presenter’s name(s), institutional

affiliation, email addresses of author(s) and the language in which you would like to

present your paper or offer a workshop.

Applicants will be advised by Monday, 15 June 2009, of the outcome of their

submissions. Further instructions will be included in acceptance emails. The full text of

accepted papers will be required no later than Monday, 24 August 2008. Due to the

fact that the entire programme needs to be designed and publications edited in

electronic form, any papers received after 24 August 2008, cannot be considered.

Details on the conference will be published on our website: http://fl.uni-mb.si/. To this

end, a special forum will be set up.

Please send all queries regarding your contributions (abstracts, finals versions,

questions) to: int.conference@uni-mb.si.

For more information, please contact:

mag. Polona Vičič

Fakulteta za logistiko

Mariborska cesta 7

3000 Celje

Tel.: +386 3 4285 329

Faks: +386 3 428 53 38

E-pošta: int.conference@uni-mb.si