Call for Papers
The Call for Papers closed on 4 October 2013
- Speakers will be informed if they have been selected in November 2013.
- All speakers must register for the full conference by 31 January 2014. Any speakers who do not register by then will have their proposal removed from the programme.
- A provisional programme will be available in December 2013.
The theme of the conference is Language Assessment for Multilingualism: promoting linguistic diversity and intercultural communication.
ALTE welcomes papers in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish related to this theme and the strands below:
| Mobility | Diversity | Intercultural Communication | Fairness & Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language competence & mobility | Assessing less widely-taught languages | Intercultural competence and how it can be assessed | Ensuring fairness and quality standards in language test administration |
| Lifelong language learning | Assessing sign language | Living with a lingua franca | Assessing candidates with special needs |
| Language assessment for migration & social integration | Assessing language for specific purposes |
Why submit a paper?
- Add your voice to a truly international, multilingual debate
- Increase the profile and extend the influence of your organisation, whether a research facility, assessment body, educational establishment, or policy body
- Share a platform with leading educators and policy makers
- Help strengthen the bridge between theory and practice
Who should present?
We welcome insights from all those keen to progress the development of language assessment; from education, assessment, employment, and from regulatory and government bodies.
Submission details
- Opens 1 April 2013 – closes 4 October 2013
- All Papers will be 45 minutes
- Paper Title (maximum 15 words) in the language your paper will be presented
- Abstract for Selection Committee (maximum 250 words) in the language your paper will be presented
- Abstract for Programme (maximum 70 words) in the language your paper will be presented
- Up to three people can present a paper (only one person to submit a submission)
- Biographical data for Programme (maximum 150 words)
- Speakers will be informed if they have been selected in November 2013
- All speakers must register for the full conference by 31 January 2014. Any speakers who do not register by then will have their proposal removed from the programme
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who can present a paper at the ALTE 5th International Conference?
We welcome papers from anyone with a professional or academic interest in language testing and assessment, including researchers, educators, employers, policy makers, or commentators.
Can I present in any other language?
ALTE welcomes papers in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Papers should be presented in the language of your submission. If you would like to give a paper in another language, please contact the ALTE Secretariat to discuss in more detail.
Are there any key topics which you hope conference presentations will address?
The only core stipulation is that all papers explore the conference theme: Language Assessment for Multilingualism: promoting linguistic diversity and intercultural communication, and we hope this will result in a wide range of papers on the many and varied issues relating to this topic.
What do I have to submit by 4 October?
The 4 October 2013 deadline is for paper abstracts, comprising the title of the paper, a 250 word abstract for the selection committee, a 70 word abstract and 150 word biodata for publication in the conference programme; if your abstract is accepted for the conference we do not need to see the full paper. Submissions must be made in the language of your final paper, either English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. If you would like to give a paper in another language, please contact the ALTE Secretariat to discuss in more detail.
What other information do I need to provide by 4 October?
We only need abstracts by 4 October, plus the completed submission form.
Do I have to present alone?
Up to three people can present a paper; only one speaker is required to submit the abstract, with details of additional speakers supplied at the same time.
When will I know if my paper abstract has been accepted?
We will inform everyone who has submitted a paper if it has been accepted, or not, in November 2013. All presenters must register and pay before 31 January 2014.
If I am accepted as a presenter, am I automatically registered as a conference delegate?
No - you will have to register and pay separately as a delegate. Visit the Registration page for more information.
All presenters must register before 31 January 2014.
How many papers will be presented at ALTE Paris 2014?
There will be over 50 sessions in the conference programme, comprising plenary papers, forum sessions (featuring specially invited speakers), and elective sessions. Apart from the plenary speaker sessions, presentations will run in parallel to give delegates a choice of presentations.
How long should my presentation last - and how long should I allow for Q&As?
Each session will last 45 minutes, and we will be strictly controlling timeslots to ensure all sessions run to schedule. Questions should be managed within the 45 minute session.
How many delegates should I expect at my presentation?
This will depend on the subject matter of your paper (in terms of speciality or breadth of interest), but room capacities will range from 35 to 150. When the provisional conference programme is published, in February 2014, each session will be allocated a room - this will indicate the maximum number of delegates who can attend.
Should I prepare hand-outs to accompany my presentation?
Yes. There are no photocopying facilities at the venue.
Will my paper be made available after the conference?
A number of papers will be selected for publication in a special conference edition of Studies in Language Testing (SiLT), published jointly by Cambridge English Language Assessment and Cambridge University Press (CUP). Papers will only be published with written permission from all speakers.
