Exploring variation in exposure to emotion labels via fiction reading and the relationship with emotion recognition skill in adolescents
By Helen Norris (PhD student in the Institute of Education) My PhD research explores the fiction reading experience of adolescents. Does it matter if they read fiction, and if they...Read More >
They are doing it: Viewing and L2 learning
They are doing it: Viewing and L2 learning Professor Carmen Muñoz (Universitat de Barcelona) Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism (CeLM) talk Tuesday April 16th, 2024, 4.00pm More and more...Read More >
Do Multilingual Families Need a Family Language Policy?
By Ludovica Serratrice (Professor of Bi-Multilingualism in the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences) All parents need to make many decisions on their children’s behalf. What they should eat,...Read More >
Can we use Digital Media to Support Bilingual Language Development?
Can we use Digital Media to Support Bilingual Language Development? Dr Joanna Kolak (UCL) Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism (CeLM) talk Monday March 11th 2024, 4.00pm High-quality educational media...Read More >
Factors of Variation and their Epistemological Value: Heritage Language bilingualism as a Case in Point
Factors of variation and their epistemological value: Heritage language bilingualism as a case in point Professor Jason Rothman (PoLaR Lab, AcqVA Aurora Centre, University of Tromsø) Centre for Literacy and...Read More >
Examining Multilingualism in the Intersection of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Education
Examining Multilingualism in the Intersection of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Education Gigi Luk (Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University) Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism (CeLM) talk and workshop Tuesday...Read More >
A Pain in My R: A Chronicle of My R-motional Rollercoaster
By Debra Page (PhD student in the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences) I'm writing this post from the trenches of academia, from the dark abyss that every PhD...Read More >
What Works for Teaching Children Whose Home Languages are not English?
By Professor Naomi Flynn (Institute of Education) Around 20% of school pupils in England have home languages other than English, yet their teachers feel under-prepared to meet their learning needs....Read More >
CeLM Research Methods Summer School 2023
CeLM is happy to announce the 6th CeLM Research Methods Summer School. In collaboration with the South East Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS), the Summer School this year will consist...Read More >
CeLM Hosts Multilingual Storytime at the University’s First Community Festival
By Professor Holly Joseph (CeLM Director- Institute of Education) On 13th May 2023, the University of Reading hosted its first ever Community Festival. The programme included music, research talks, workshops...Read More >
CeLM Update Spring 2023
CeLM members have been busy with various projects over the past few months. Please see our Autumn 2023 CeLM update for further information.
Understanding Multilingual Children’s Language Development
We are delighted to announce a new course we have developed at CeLM: ‘Understanding Multilingual Children's Language Development’ on the FutureLearn platform. With a large percentage of people in the world speaking...Read More >
CeLM Seminar Series
We are happy to announce speakers in the CeLM Seminar Series for the upcoming year. Please find information below, including the date and time, CeLM theme and location of each...Read More >
CeLM Update Autumn 2022
CeLM members have been busy with various projects over the past few months. Please see our Autumn 2022 CeLM update for further information.
Evaluation of a home language intervention for language-minority students: a controlled trial
CeLM and the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences are happy to announce a research seminar on September 29th at 1.00pm. Professor Pascale Engel de Abreu (University of Luxembourg)...Read More >
Supporting bilingual people with aphasia in their rehabilitation journey: Where are we now?
Join us for a free online talk on rehabilitation in bilinguals with aphasia on Tuesday, June 7th at 9.00am (UK time), given by Dr Samantha Siyambalapitiya, Griffith University, Australia. The...Read More >
A Critical Conundrum: Language and Refugees
On a recent episode of the Discover Reading podcast Dr Tony Capstick, Associate Professor of Language and Migration in the Department of English Language and Applied Linguistics, joined hosts Chris...Read More >
Professional Advice to Parents on Spoken Language Bilingualism in Deaf Children
By Emily Wright (PhD Student - School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences) There are more than 7000 deaf children in the UK with spoken language bilingualism. These children speak...Read More >
The Impact of Informal Second Language Learning, Motivation and Formal Instruction on EFL Learners’ Spoken Use of Discourse Markers
Join us for a free online talk by Dr Christina Lyrigkou (Open University) on second language learning on February 16th, at 4.00m (UK time). The Impact of Informal Second Language...Read More >
“Now I Hear What You Say” – How Short EAP Courses Can Foster Successful Academic Interactional Strategies
Join us for a free online talk by Clare Wright (University of Leeds), Anna Tsakalaki (University of Reading) and Mei Lin (University of Newcastle) on English for Academic Purposes on...Read More >
Speech and Language Therapy Done Right is Social Justice Work
Join us for a free online talk by Warda Farah on speech and language therapy and social justice, taking place Tuesday February 1st, at 6.00pm (UK time). Speech and Language...Read More >
Multilingualism and Social Justice
Join us for Multilingualism and Social Justice; our next free online public event on 21st February 2022 from 18:00 - 19:30, for International Mother Language Day. Leading academics from across...Read More >
Forum for Germanic Language Studies
The 15th Forum for Germanic Language Studies biannual conference, hosted by the University of Reading, will take place online from 06-07 January 2022. The conference is open to papers presenting...Read More >
Being Multilingual: Perspectives from Language, Education, Health, Neuroscience and Migration
CeLM Showcase Do multilinguals think about space and time differently in their languages? What is the relationship between language learning and creativity? What happens in the brain when we learn…Read More >
The Multilingual Mind Lecture Series: Jie’en Yee
The Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism is pleased to invite you to an online talk provided by Jia’en Yee (University Putra Malaysia) entitled Multilingualism effects on brain structure. The talk will be…Read More >
Supporting EAL Children in the Multilingual Classroom Interview
Dr Naomi Flynn was recently interviewed on Dr Kathy Weston’s Get a Grip Parenting Podcast. The interview can be found here. In this parent and teacher-oriented podcast, Dr Flynn talks to Dr Weston…Read More >
Fairbrother Lecture 2021: Living with More than One Language – The Effects of Bilingualism on Mind and Brain
The Fairbrother Lecture is an annual Graduate School event at which a Reading doctoral researcher presents their research to a wider audience. This year, past CeLM PhD student Dr Toms…Read More >
Early language, emergent literacy skills, and developmental language disorder: What can we learn from Arabic-speaking children?
By Zakiyah A. Alsiddiqi (PhD Student – School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences) Research has shown that early years’ experiences in children’s lives lay the foundation of their later learning...Read More >
The Multilingual Mind Lectures Series: Professor Merel Keijzer
The Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism is pleased to invite you to an online talk provided by Professor Merel Keijzer (University of Groningen) entitled Language learning as a vaccine to promote healthy aging:…Read More >
Can motion event construal be taught or restructured? Evidence from bilinguals and L2 learners
Can motion event construal be taught or restructured? Evidence from bilinguals and L2 learners Organisers: Fraibet Aveledo and Jeanine Treffers-Daller (University of Reading) Workshop Dates: 16-17 April 2021 (free event,...Read More >
Online panel: Translation outreach in schools and the move online
The Centre for Book Cultures and Publishing and The Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism at the University of Reading, in partnership with Outside in World, the organisation dedicated to promoting and exploring world literature...Read More >
Languages in Lockdown
CeLM and Bilingualism Matters@Reading together with colleagues from UCL and MultiLing Oslo will be presenting the findings of a study on language use in multilingual families during the COVID-19 pandemic...Read More >
Motion Event Construal Workshop Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for our workshop entitled ‘Can Motion Event Construal be Taught or Restructured? Evidence from Bilinguals and L2 Learners‘. The workshop, organised by Dr Fraibet Aveledo and Professor Jeanine Treffers-Daller,...Read More >
Online Talk in Czech by Michal Korenar for Brain Awareness Week
Brain Awareness Week (15 – 21 March 2021) is the largest global campaign to raise public awareness about brain research. In Czechia, Brain Awareness Week is co-organized by the Czech…Read More >
Why Do We Sing the Alphabet? Music and Language Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
By Anamarija Veic (PhD Student – School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences) When people have asked me what the direct link between music and language processing is, I would ask...Read More >
Public Lecture for International Mother Language Day
The Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism (CeLM) and the Centre for Book Cultures and Publishing (CBCP) are delighted to invite you to our annual public lecture celebrating International Mother Language Day at the...Read More >
Language in Multilingual Families during the COVID-19 pandemic
Update on Phase Two: End of survey and prize draw The second phase of the survey closed on 21st December with 156 responses and 80 families willing to take part...Read More >
New Blog: International Migrants’ Day 2020
CeLM member Dr Tony Capstick has written a post for the University Research Blog about International Migrants’ Day 2020. Those interested should also look out for his new book on Language and Migration, which…Read More >
Call for Papers: Can motion event construal be taught or restructured? Evidence from bilinguals and L2 learners
Organisers: Fraibet Aveledo and Jeanine Treffers-Daller (University of Reading) Workshop Dates: 16-17 April 2021 (free event, online via zoom) CALL FOR PAPERS We invite abstracts for a workshop which will...Read More >
Prof. Jeanine Treffers-Daller investigates the role of code-switching and of the alternation between multicultural identity styles in bilinguals’ executive function performance
This lecture is part of the MultiMind’s seminar series (https://bit.ly/3knTH6w): The Multilingual Mind: Lecture series on multilingualism across disciplines: https://bit.ly/35l4PNf
The Importance of Language Learning and Maintenance amid Brexit and COVID-19: Evidence from Successful EAL Practice
On September 4th 2020 our BM@Reading Co-Director, Dr Naomi Flynn, delivered a webinar for teachers in Scotland with her colleague Dr Yvonne Foley of Edinburgh University. This as part of the event…Read More >
Routledge’s discount on books includes “Language and Migration” by Tony Capstick
Tony Capstick‘s textbook Language and Migration is currently being sold at a discounted price by Routledge. “In this volume Capstick combines sociolinguistic analysis with analytical tools and insights from a variety of disciplines including…Read More >
Going online during a global pandemic
Ludovica Serratrice, Director of CeLM and organiser of online COM2020 has written a blog post about what it’s like to plan an online conference during a pandemic. Read the blog...Read More >
The Covid-19 Multilingualism and Migration website is live!
By Tony Capstick The Covid-19 Multilingualism and Migration research project seeks to identify how refugees share information about the coronavirus across their networks. We also seek to identify...Read More >
FREE ONLINE course on understanding and responding to trauma in classroom settings
Five years since Dr Capstick‘s initial research in classrooms with refugees and migrants in the four countries neighbouring Syria, the British Council continues to develop its Language for Resilience programmes. Here are...Read More >
New blog post by Professor Treffers-Daller on Multilingualism and Identity in Cyprus
Professor Treffers-Daller is working on an exciting new project on Multilingualism and Identity in Cyprus, as part of a Council for British Research in the Levant Pilot Study. Read more on...Read More >
Launch of online survey to find out how lockdown is affecting multilingual families
Calling all multilingual families in the UK and Ireland! Together with Bilingualism Matters@Reading and colleagues at the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, UCL, NALDIC, Mother Tongues Ireland, and We…Read More >
Nuovo video: come dare il giusto supporto ai bambini bilingui durante la chiusura delle scuole
La professoressa Ludovica Serratrice, direttrice del Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism, risponde alle domande dei genitori italiani nel Regno Unito. Le risorse menzionate nel video si trovano sul sito: https://naldic.org.uk/…Read More >
New video: how to support bilingual children during school closure
BM Director Naomi Flynn gives advice no how to best support bilingual and multilingual children during school closure. Watch the video here Find the transcription of the video below: Hi, I…Read More >
Video interview with Dr Naomi Flynn
Dr Naomi Flynn is associate professor at the Institute of Education at the University of Reading, member of the Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism (CeLM), primary school teacher educator and co-director of...Read More >
Children from disadvantaged backgrounds in India learn best in multilingual classrooms
Jeanine Treffers-Daller (University of Reading) How can we create learning environments that allow multilingual children to give full expression to their capacity to learn? This was the key question...Read More >
“Can motion event construal be taught?” NEW WORKSHOP DATES (16-17 APRIL, 2021)
Can motion event construal be taught? Pedagogical and experimental approaches to restructuring event cognition patterns **THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL 2021** TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE NEW CALL FOR...Read More >
SPEAKING ANOTHER LANGUAGE MAY HELP PROTECT COGNITIVE DECLINE IN MS PATIENTS
Bilingual speakers may benefit from protection against cognitive decline in multiple sclerosis according to a new study. In the first paper of its kind to test the idea that speaking...Read More >
Video interview with Professor Ludovica Serratrice and Doctor Alessandra Valentini
Professor Ludovica Serratrice is Director of the Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism at the University of Reading. Doctor Alessandra Valentini is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the School of Psychology and Clinical...Read More >
International Mother Language Day: Understanding children’s reading
Understanding Children’s Reading: At School and At Home Thursday 20 February 2020 | 7pm – 8.30pm | Room GO1, Building L022, London Road Campus, UoR The Centre for...Read More >
Interview with Professor Suzanne Graham
Suzanne Graham is Professor of Language and Education at the Institute of Education (University of Reading). She is an expert in language learning strategies, motivation for language learning, reading and listening comprehension in...Read More >
Student Social
The Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism (CeLM) is hosting the first social event of the academic year to bring together PhD researchers working on projects related to language, from across...Read More >
COM2020 – Call for papers
***Call for papers*** The next Conference on Multilingualism 2020 (COM2020) will be hosted by the Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism (CeLM) at the University of Reading (UK) from the 23rd to…Read More >
Interview with Professor Holly Joseph on reading comprehension in EAL children
Holly Joseph is an Associate Professor in Language Education and Literacy Development at the Institute of Education in Reading and co-director of Bilingualism Matters@Reading. She agreed to talk to Bilingualism Matters about...Read More >
Minister’s quest for ‘simple solutions’ to social mobility misses the point – by Holly Joseph and Naomi Flynn
Originally posted on the University of Reading’s Connecting Research blog “It is a persistent scandal that we have children starting school not able to communicate in full sentences, not able to read...Read More >
Linguistic Issues Surrounding Refugees and Asylum Seekers
By Konstantina Olioumtsevits The Linguistic Issues Surrounding Refugees and Asylum Seekers was a one-day forum organized by the Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism and the University of Reading. In essence,…Read More >
The British Association of Clinical Linguistics Symposium
In partnership with The British Association of Clinical Linguistics, CeLM is delivering a two day symposium exploring the latest advances in research and teaching of clinical linguistics and phonetics. Location: Agriculture...Read More >
Tips for parents raising bilingual kids – by Anna Wolleb
Get some tips from other bilingual parents on how to maintain home language with children of all different ages. These tips were part of CeLM’s Mother Tongue event, held on…Read More >
Seminar: “Nominal ellipsis in L2 Spanish: syntactic and pragmatic constraints”
Date Friday 12th April 2019 Time 15h00 Venue Chancellors G01 Abstract The Interface Hypothesis (Sorace 2011) states that interfaces between internal modules of the grammar and external modules are problematic for…Read More >
Can watching Peppa Pig in a variety of languages fast-track multilingualism?
Research at Reading has shown that learning an additional language can boost critical thinking skills. In a recent MailOnline article the author explores the trend for children watching shows in foreign languages...Read More >
Language for Resilience Exhibition 11th March – 29th March
Language for Resilience Exhibition 11th March – 29th March Library Building, University of Reading In partnership with the University of Reading, the British Council is bringing the Language for Resilience…Read More >
Learning languages for a healthy brain
Date: 21/02/2019 Time: 20.00-22.00 Location: University of Reading, London Road Campus, Room LO22 Who is this for? This is open to members of the public and is free to attend. Evidence suggests that…Read More >
Working with interpreters in speech and language therapy- by Beth Marsden
In a society that is becoming ever more linguistically and culturally diverse, language can sometimes become a barrier for monolingual healthcare practitioners working with multilingual clients. Recent surveys have shown...Read More >
The Language Show 2018
The Language Show 2018 will take place on November 9-11 this year at Olympia London. CeLM members will have a presence at the show on the first day (Friday) and will have…Read More >
Multilingual Story Time
Calling all families! As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science, Bilingualism Matters@Reading is hosting a multilingual story time in eight different languages. On Tuesday November 6th 2018 in…Read More >
Seminar: Neuroanatomical perspectives on bilingualism and language experience
Speaker Prof Jubin Abutalebi (Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan) Date Tues 2nd October 2018 Time 17h00 – 18h15 Venue University of Reading, Edith Morley Building, Room G25 Please join us for drinks and…Read More >
Giving up on language learning? It doesn’t have to be this way! -by Suzanne Graham
As we celebrate European Day of Languages, it’s important that we remain positive about the future of language learning in England. This summer, while the percentage of learners sitting a…Read More >
Assessing multilingual children’s English proficiency is no longer mandatory – by Naomi Flynn
As our multilingual children return to school this month, their teachers will, no doubt, be delighted to see them and to hear about their summers. But something will have changed…Read More >
16th-19th July: 2nd International Connect Malaysia (Connect’M) Conference 2018
2nd International Connect Malaysia (Connect’M) Conference 2018 16-19 July 2018 At University of Reading Malaysia, Persiaran Graduan Kota Ilmu, Educity 79200 Iskandar Puteri Johor, Malaysia. Abstract submission Key dates Programme…Read More >
5th-7th July: HoLLTnet international meeting
History of Language Learning and Teaching conference (HoLLTnet): ‘Bi/Multilingualism and the History of Language Learning and Teaching’ Location: University of Reading Date: 5-7th July Register online (£5; free for students/unwaged) by 14…Read More >
A Conversation with the Bilingualism in the Brain Lab- by Vince DeLuca and Tom Voits
Speaking more than one language can, quite literally, change the structure of your brain. But what happens, why does this happen, and what implications might this have across our lifetimes…Read More >
Language impairment in bilingual children – Knowledge Transfer Workshop
Knowledge Transfer Workshop for Speech & Language Therapists Date: 29 June 2018 Location: Meadow Suite, Park House, Whiteknights Campus Book here Several waves of migration have led to an increase in the…Read More >
Complementary schools – More than just places to learn home languages – by Roberta Luchini Boschi
At the University of Reading, some of our education-themed research within CeLM has indicated the benefits for multilingual children and young people of maintaining their home languages. For example, emerging…Read More >
Statistics for linguists with R (5 days duration)
DATE: 18 June 2018 TIME: 9.00-17.00 LOCATION: Psychology Building G79, University of Reading, Earley gate entrance Course Instructor: Dr Stefan Th. Gries This 30-hours/1-week course introduces participants to regression modeling with...Read More >
Multilingualism is integrative- by Tony Capstick
Multilingualism is integrative. It is a rich resource for social inclusion and provides the foundations for additional language learning. People do not learn languages at the same pace, nor do...Read More >
Raising bilingual teenagers – by Anna Wolleb
Before sitting down to write this post, I googled the phrase “bringing up bilingual children”. I got exactly 2,260,000 hits. Most of these were articles or blog posts providing advice...Read More >
What’s left of a multilingual society in an English-only country? by Ludovica Serratrice
On the 13th March, the Government launched The Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper, a document setting out an ambitious plan to address the...Read More >
Introduction to Structural Equation Modelling (2 days duration)
DATE: 26 March 2018 TIME: 9.30-16.00 LOCATION: Venue Details 4 Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX, London Road Campus, L22, Room 113 Course Instructor: Dr Lars-Erik Malmberg (University of Cambridge)...Read More >
Does using a special font help children with dyslexia to read more fluently? By Holly Joseph and Daisy Powell
In recent years, a number of specialist fonts have been developed which claim to help people with dyslexia to read more easily and fluently. The main idea is that by...Read More >
The role of bilingualism in moral and evaluative judgments (and swearing)- by David Miller
Consider for a moment the last time you experienced road rage. I can easily recall my last experience because my response was so bizarre...Read More >
What Peppa Pig can teach us about bilingualism (and systematic reviews cannot) – by Thomas H Bak
Yes, I admit it: I am a great fan of Peppa Pig. Unlike fairy-tales of magic castles and princesses it depicts in an entertaining way real every-day life and teaches...Read More >
14th in the UK for Linguistics
Linguistics at the University of Reading has been ranked as 14th in the UK in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017. Theo Marinis, Director of the Centre for Literacy &...Read More >
Point of entry – by Federico Faloppa
In legal terms, a port (or point) of entry is a place where one may lawfully enter a country. In computer programming, entry point is a memory address, where control...Read More >
CeLM Week
The Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism (CeLM) is proud to host a week of celebratory events from Monday 19 June to Friday 23 June. Events across the week are open...Read More >
Bilingualism Matters@Reading launches YouTube channel
Bilingualism Matters@Reading has launched a YouTube channel to pass on information to parents, teachers, speech and language therapists on multilingual language development and use. The channel will include interviews with academics, tips...Read More >
Dr Daisy Powell visits Malaysia to explore multilingual language and literacy research
Dr Daisy Powell is Director of Postgraduate Research at the Institute of Education (IoE) and a member of the Language and Literacy in Education Research Group and of Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism...Read More >
Celebrating Mother Language Day – Sarah Tierney
On February 21, 2017 CeLM, along with Bilingualism Matters @ Reading and Mothertongue delivered two interactive events to communicate the benefits of maintaining the Mother Tongue and provide a glimpse...Read More >
Bilingualism Matters Reading
The Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism at the University of Reading is the host of a branch of Bilingualism Matters. Bilingualism Matters provides training, advice and information on child bilingualism to...Read More >