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From https://sites.google.com/a/umn.edu/advancedl2spanish/home

Evolving Perspectives on Advancedness: A Symposium on Second Language Spanish
February 15-17, 2018
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

The symposium will highlight data-driven research that operationalizes the term advanced according to one of four strands of research:

•    Sophisticated language use in context. This construct of advancedness encompasses more than linguistic phenomena; it includes aspects of literacy and diverse manifestations of cultural competence. Topics include, but are not limited to, register, voice, genre-specific features, and socio-pragmatic phenomena;
•    Acquisition of late-acquired structures. Certain features, such as gender agreement, copula selection, and mood selection, are known to develop slowly in L2 Spanish, yet most work has focused on beginning or intermediate learners.  Presentations in this strand will explore characteristics of these features in the language of advanced learners; Linguistic correlates of proficiency.
•    Linguistic correlates of proficiency. A variety of standardized methods (e.g., ACTFL OPI, ILR, CEFR, DELE, DLPT) are used to describe and assess the L2 proficiency of individuals as well as establish criteria for enrollment or employment. How do they correspond to the notions of advancedness among different institutions of higher learning? The linguistic correlates, or features, characteristic of language at each level comprise this strand of research;
•    Individual differences. Language aptitude, learning experiences, motivation, identity, working memory, and many other learner variables are known to impact language development and outcomes. This strand addresses those variables, exploring issues regarding ultimate attainment, individual speaker variables and their correlation with proficiency, variability within groups, and the relationship of  institutional status and proficiency.

In addition to the four strands described above, the organizers welcome proposals for a colloquium on Instructed SLA and advanced proficiency.

Deadline for abstracts: May 26, 2017

Visit the symposium website at https://sites.google.com/a/umn.edu/advancedl2spanish/home