IRAAL connects language lecturers, language teachers, and researchers in linguistics, applied linguistics, and sociolinguistics with an active community keeping up with the latest language developments and offering lectures and seminars across Ireland. IRAAL’s history dates back to its foundation in 1975 to support research in applied and general linguistics in Ireland. IRAAL is affiliated with the International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA) and pursues its aim of supporting research by organising seminars, lectures, conferences and workshops. Its publications include the annual bilingual, open-access online academic journal TEANGA as well as special volumes on specific topics. Membership is open to everyone with an interest in languages or linguistics.
Adult migrants’ smartphone use for language learning and social integration
It has become essential to understand the literacy practices that adult migrants develop both inside and outside the classroom when using digital tools to manage situations requiring them to read and write in the language of their host country. Digital literacy is increasingly recognized as a key component of migrants’ successful inclusion into host societies, as it facilitates social interaction, access to employment (Hokkinen & Barner-Rasmussen, 2023), and, more broadly, helps them navigate everyday life (Tammelin-Laine, 2020). Yet, studies focusing on adult migrants’ digital literacy remain scarce (Bradley et al., 2025) and seldom examine the actual literacy practices they engage in during daily life.
Professor Guichon will first outline key issues related to technology-enhanced language learning for migrants. He will illustrate his presentation with two studies. The first examines the in situ use of digital tools (e.g., smartphone applications) by adult migrants, exploring how these tools provide insights into their developing literacy and the role of digital resources in that process. The analysis draws on multifocal recordings of three migrants using digital tools (e.g., machine translation) to solve problems related to reading and writing in an additional language (French, in this case). It is argued that such “digital literacy events” (Prinsloo & Baynham, 2008) can shed light on the role of digital tools in migrants’ literacy development.
The second study, part of the ongoing SAALAM project, presents an analysis of tutorials conducted with adult migrants. These analyses offer insights into how participants progressively identify and exploit the affordances of smartphones to enhance their language learning strategies. Implications for teacher training will be discussed in the conclusion.
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We are delighted to share with you the first IRAAL newsletter.
We are very grateful to our IRAAL colleagues who shared their insights, events and on-going projects with us. We would also like to thank the newsletter editor and executive committee member, Dr Sal Consoli, who has worked extremely hard to get this initiative off the ground.
We hope you enjoy reading it and look forward to many more editions.
Executive IRAAL Committee
IRAAL 2023 Conference Organisers: School of Modern Languages, Maynooth University
The winner of our PhD award
Introducing the new editors of Teanga
IRAAL contributed to the Languages Connect Summit on October 14th, 2023. As part of our contribution, we have presented research into language being done by our members in Ireland. Check our lovely pictures below:
We’re thrilled to announce Susanna Nocchi‘s appointment as Vice-Chair (Ireland) for the Association of University Language Communities (AULC). The AULC supports university language communities across the UK and Ireland. Susanna brings over three decades of language education experience to this role, both as former President and current Treasurer of IRAAL. As Vice-Chair, Susanna will boost communication among Irish AULC members and Irish language communities’ representation within AULC. We want to congratulate Susanna and wish her the very best in this role.
Congratulations to @Lorna_Carson for her well-deserved appointment as Professor. Prof Carson was President of IRAAL between 2014 and 2017 and has been working extensively in the field of Applied Linguistics in Ireland
Congratulations to IRAAL Executive Committee Member Dr Stephen Lucek, University College Dublin, who was awarded the ‘Maurice J Bric Medal of Excellence’ for his research on adolescents’ use of language in Irish secondary schools.
Congratulations to IRAAL Executive Committee Member, Dr Marie-Thérèse Batardière. Dr Marie-Thérèse Batardière (University of Limerick) has recently been made a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques, in recognition of her record of service to French-language education. Dr Batardière received the award from the French Ambassador to Ireland, M. Stéphane Crouzat. We send our warm congratulations to Marie-T on the well-deserved recognition of her excellent work and outstanding commitment to language education.
