A Message from the Conference Director

Welcoming address from the Conference Director

Welcome to The Third All-Ireland Research Conference on Immersion Education – Immersion Education: Taking StockandMovingForward.

This conference aims to bring together academics, practitioners and professionals to exchange and discuss immersion research, theory and best practices and to initiate and sustain meaningful professional dialogue across languages, levels and diverse immersion contexts.

Immersion Education: Taking Stock and Moving Forward would not have been possible without the support and commitment of the following conference partners:

• Mary Immaculate College, Limerick • An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta • Munster Technological University-Kerry Campus • Gaeloideachas • Foras na Gaeilge • Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta.

Designing, implementing, and refining language immersion education which successfully promotes additive bilingualism, biliteracy, multicultural competence, and academic achievement requires considerable support. It is critical that this support is powered by scholarship in immersion teaching and learning, visionary leadership and community innovation and advocacy. This conference provides an international forum that brings together the latest academic and policy discussions, and promotes critical debate on these often-complex interconnections of language immersion education.

During the two-day event, keynote addresses, symposia, posters and research papers will be presented under the following strands:

• Immersion Pedagogy and Assessment • Leadership and Professional Learning • Policy and Innovation in Bilingual/Multilingual Communities.

The depth of scholarship and breadth of experience represented by the participants promises an exciting and fruitful two days. I invite you to participate in the multiple network opportunities this conference offers and engage in critical debate on the enduring questions and innovative responses unique to immersion education.

On behalf of the Conference Executive Committee, I wish you all an innovative, productive and challenging conference experience and an enjoyable time in the wonderful city of Limerick.

Le mórbhuíochas,

Dr T.J. Ó Ceallaigh Conference Convenor and Chair