In the series of six free online lectures, “Current trends in multilingualism research”, researchers will present linguistic, cognitive, affective and educational aspects of multilingualism. International experts will discuss the findings of empirical research on individual multilingualism. Specialists will explain the mechanisms which underlie the functioning of multilingual adults and children. Also, they will discuss individual differences in the acquisition of new languages, expressing emotions in foreign languages, multilingualism in education, as well as linguistic and cognitive development of multilingual children.
The lectures are organised by the University of Warsaw School for International Science, in collaboration with the International Association of Multilingualism under the Initiative of Excellence – Research University project (IDUB Action II 3.7 “Multilingualism”), coordinated by Prof. Agnieszka Otwinowska-Kasztelanic from the UW Faculty of Modern Languages.
21st April, 3p.m.
Prof. Julia Festman (University College for Teacher Education Tyrol): Does it get any easier when we learn and process multiple languages?
In this talk, I will discuss the ease with which multilinguals learn additional languages and provide some answers to two main questions: What helps multilinguals to acquire new languages? And what are the consequences of having to manage multiple languages? I suggest five specific effects related to multilingualism which may ease subsequent learning of multiple languages.