Taking Center Stage: SOLL Researchers’ Presentations at AILA 2024 in Kuala Lumpur
Xiaoyi Zhang
The AILA 2024 World Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was a significant event for applied linguistics, and the University of Melbourne’s School of Languages and Linguistics (SOLL) had a strong presence. This year’s congress celebrated the 60th anniversary of the International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA) and brought together researchers from around the world to share their work and ideas.
Several of our PhD students and faculty members were there to present their research and network with researchers from different countries. I spoke with three of our PhD candidates, Luka Bulukia Abdullah, Hangyu Zhang and Xiaoyi Zhang, about their experiences at the conference and what they learned.
It was a great honour to be invited to present at such a prestigious conference.
– Luka Balukia Abdullah on presenting at his first international conference
Luka Bulukia Abdullah, a second-year PhD candidate, presented his research on “Attitudes Towards Code-Switching Involving Arabic in a Multilingual Situation“. This was Luka’s first time presenting at an international conference, and he described the experience as both exciting and meaningful:
“It was a great honour to be invited to present at such a prestigious conference, and it was significant as it was my first presentation at an international level,” Luka said.
The best part for him was the interest and engagement of the audience:
“The most rewarding aspect was the interest of the participants and the engaging discussions we had. It was fascinating to discover how the topic of code-switching resonated across different communities and sparked insightful conversations with delegates.”
Luka said the feedback he received was very valuable for his research, especially in understanding how to connect his findings with indigenous and community-based approaches. He was also invited to participate in a forum on topics closely related to his study, which he found very inspiring. A special moment for Luka was meeting Sinfree Makoni, whose work on decolonisation has had a major influence on his own research:
“Our brief discussion was incredibly inspiring, especially his advice on how I could contribute to the decolonisation movement in my own way. His emphasis on giving back to the communities in which we conduct our research is something I’ll carry with me throughout my career.”
Presenting virtually had its challenges, but it was also very rewarding.
– Hangyu Zhang on sharing her research online
Third-year PhD candidate Hangyu Zhang presented her research on “Development of Second Language Interactional Competence in the Stay Abroad Context: A Longitudinal Study” via Zoom. Hangyu couldn’t attend in person due to a personal scheduling conflict, but she still found the experience very positive:
“The overall experience of presenting my research virtually was great. Even though I couldn’t be there in person, it was exciting to present my research to scholars from different countries.”
Hangyu admitted that presenting online had its challenges, especially in making the presentation both visually and verbally appealing:
“Online presentations don’t allow you to make eye contact or use other non-verbal cues, so I spent a lot of time thinking about the visual content of my slides,” she explained. “But there were also some advantages, such as reducing the stress of speaking in front of a large crowd and knowing that everyone could clearly see my slides and hear my voice.”
She also appreciated the opportunity to connect with scholars around the world through AILA’s digital platform:
“After the presentation, I uploaded my slides with my contact information so that scholars from around the world could review my research and reach out to me. This was a great way to stay connected and expand my engagement with the international academic field.”
I feel truly honoured to be a part of such an impactful and well-known conference in Applied Linguistics.
– Xiaoyi Zhang on her first conference presentation
Xiaoyi Zhang, another second-year PhD candidate, shared her experience of presenting her research on ” Linguistic (in)security among Chinese international students in Australian higher education: Insights from a language management approach“. This was also her first time presenting at a conference and she felt deeply honoured:
“Presenting my research at the AILA conference was an incredible experience! I felt so honoured to be part of such an influential event, especially as it was my first time presenting at a conference. It was a fantastic opportunity to share my work with scholars worldwide and receive so much valuable feedback”.
Xiaoyi found it rewarding to learn from other scholars and discover new ideas that relate to her own research:
“I was able to learn from other scholars and find new ideas related to my research. For example, Dr Seong Lin Ding’s work on the vitality of heritage languages in Malaysia gave me new insights into how these issues affect Chinese Malaysians, which is directly related to my PhD project’s focus on young Chinese Malaysians in Australia”.
She also shared how the discussions at the congress had inspired new directions for her research:
“I was fortunate to receive a lot of great questions and feedback, both during my session and afterwards. One memorable moment was when a PhD student from UNSW approached me to find out more about my study. This conversation made me think more deeply about how students manage their feelings of linguistic insecurity, and what role institutions can play in helping them feel more secure.”
Faculty Contributions: Professor John Hajek and Dr. Trang Nguyen
Our faculty was also well represented, with Professor John Hajek and Dr. Trang Nguyen presenting their research on linguistic discrimination faced by migrants in Australia. Their session provided a powerful exploration of the various types of linguistic discrimination and offered insights into tackling these critical issues.
Making It Possible: Support for Conference Travel
Travelling from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur for an international conference like AILA can be a long and costly trip. Fortunately, SOLL offers funding for graduate researchers planning to attend both international and national academic conferences. My trip to AILA 2024 was supported by the Arts Graduate Research Conference Grant, which provides financial assistance for students to share their work and connect with scholars globally.
Celebrating SOLL’s role in the global linguistic community
Overall, the AILA 2024 World Congress provided a dynamic platform for SOLL researchers to engage with the global academic community, share their research, and build networks that will undoubtedly enrich their future work. Their experiences underline the School’s commitment to advancing knowledge and promoting dialogue in the field of applied linguistics.