Research Network on History of Language Learning and Teaching (http://hollt.net)
Convenors:
- Professor Richard SMITH, University of Warwick, UK
- Professor Giovanni IAMARTINO, University of Milan, Italy
Scope:
The overall goal of the AILA Research Network for the History of Language Learning and Teaching (‘HoLLT.net’ for short) is to stimulate research into the history of language learning and teaching within applied linguistics internationally. Such research will help us understand historical developments and furnish necessary historical perspectives for professional reflection on how language education is or should be carried out today, including – for example – in the areas of appropriate development of language education policies, curricular and textbook reform initiatives and teaching methodologies for different contexts, which can thereby be historically as well as sociologically and culturally defined and assessed.
HoLLT.net is dedicated to promoting and disseminating historical research into, at least, the following domains:
- how languages have been taught and learned;
- which languages have been taught and learned, and where and why;
- the sociology of language learning and teaching: who taught and learned in the past;
- what has been taught and learned;
- how language learning and teaching have been theorized;
- how language teachers have been trained or educated.
HoLLT.net encourages comparisons across language teaching and learning traditions and across nations and regions. Our principal aims, then, are to:
- identify research which has already been done worldwide and disseminate information about this;
- disseminate findings of historical research as it is carried out;
- promote research in the area of HoLLT – particularly by supporting new scholars in this field and by helping to publicize and thereby potentially strengthen existing national or language-specific associations;
- investigate potential for new kinds of cross-disciplinary applied linguistic research;
- create opportunities for research on similar aspects or periods across regions;
- seek research funding opportunities for development of the network and for international research collaborations;
- promote discussion and development of appropriate research methodologies in this area of applied linguistics.
In order to work towards these aims our currently envisaged activities are to:
- continue to develop the website;
- maintain a freely accessible online bibliography of pertinent publications;
- build up our electronic distribution and discussion list;
- develop our Facebook page;
- hold annual meetings and organize a symposium at the AILA 2027 Congress;
- support publication of papers from HoLLT.net and HoLLT.net-supported events;
- contribute to production of a pioneering Handbook of History of Language Learning and Teaching to be published by Bloomsbury Academic in 2027.
The network is free to join and open to all with an interest in researching the history of language learning, teaching or assessment in any context or language tradition.
Highlights of 3 scientific ReN works during the previous period:
- Doff, Sabine and Smith, Richard (eds.) (2022). Policy and Practice in Language Learning and Teaching: 20th-century Historical Perspectives. Amsterdam University Press.
- Smith, Richard and Giesler, Tim (eds.) (2023). Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching: Historical Perspectives. AILA Applied Linguistics Series no. 20. Benjamins.
- HoLLTnet symposium on 'Ideology in the History of Language Learning and Teaching' at the AILA Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 2024.
Some members:
- Prof. Rachel MAIRS, University of Reading (UK)
- Dr. Tim GIESLER, University of Bremen (Germany)
- Prof. Karène SANCHEZ SUMMERER, University of Groningen (Netherlands)
- Xi LI, University of Warwick (UK)
- Prof. Sabine DOFF, University of Bremen (Germany)
- Dr. R. VENNELA, NIT Warangal (India)
- Prof. Azirah HASHIM, University of Malaya
- Dr Wei CHEN, University of Malta (Malta)
and 300+ other members