SPECIAL SESSIONS
SPECIAL SESSION 1:
Creatively Engaged and Recharged: A Session for Mid- and Senior-Career Professionals
Organizers:
Micheline Chalhoub-Deville (University of North Carolina, Greensboro)
Mikyung Kim Wolf (Educational Testing Service (ETS) )
Date: Wednesday, July 3, 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Following the exceedingly positive feedback received from attendees at the 2023 LTRC, the organizing committee for LTRC 2024 has invited us to host this session once again. We warmly welcome mid- and senior-career professionals, including those who participated last year, to join us for a session designed to reconnect and reinvigorate all attendees.
This special session aimed at mid- and senior-career professionals in the language testing field is designed to be a dynamic and reenergizing experience. The goal is to create an environment that sparks creative thinking and generates fresh ideas. The session will include a panel of experts who will share their experiences and perspectives about their professional journeys and the language testing field. It will also feature interactive activities and stimulating discussions. Participants will have the opportunity to network with peers and learn from each other, enhancing their professional development.
Panel:
Liying Cheng, City University of Macau, SAR China
Atta Gebril, The American University in Cairo, Egypt
Benjamin Kremmel, University of Innsbruck, Austria
Lynda Taylor, University of Bedfordshire, UK
If you are interested in attending this session, please complete this brief survey by May 10, 2024 (Your response will help us better plan the session!):
https://forms.gle/zqwenpe4LiFwoCs78
SPECIAL SESSION 2:
How to Be a (Good) Reviewer
Organizers:
Talia Isaacs (University College London, Co-Editor Language Testing)
Elvis Wagner (Temple University, Co-Editor Language Assessment Quarterly)
Daniel R. Isbell (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Associate Editor Language Learning)
Date: Wednesday, July 3, 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
The first part of this interactive session will center on how to write a useful review and challenges in the peer review enterprise from editors’, reviewers’, and authors’ perspectives. We’ll address the importance of and strategies for writing insightful, constructive, and professional peer reviews with implementable feedback for authors. We will draw on Committee for Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines on ethical reviewer practices pre-, during, and post-publication. We will also cover the use of generative AI tools in the peer review process and ethical implications (e.g., should not be used to craft reviews). Next, we will discuss different types of peer review (e.g., single-/double-blind, open, etc.) and panel attendees’ perspectives on where they think journals in our field should be headed. Finally, we will discuss initiatives to better induct and support new peer reviewers in our field, including but not limited to introducing cross-journal guidelines for reviewers across language testing journals and potentially introducing an LTRC abstract mentoring scheme, where invited junior reviewers are paired with more senior reviewers and jointly evaluate abstracts for future LTRCs.
SPECIAL SESSION 3:
Navigating the Job Market
Date: Wednesday, July 3, 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
This session is tailored for graduate students, recent graduates and emerging scholars seeking guidance in entering the job market or new professional opportunities. The speakers will answer your questions and report on their professional journeys to provide insights from both the academic and industry job market. They will talk about their experiences in both mentoring and preparing individuals for the job market, as well as hiring individuals in their various roles and what is important from an employer’s perspective. They will explore effective strategies for job hunting, and give tips on networking, strengthening one’s profile and CV, honing your application, or standing out in job interviews. The session also delves into the evolving landscape of language assessment (research) careers, shedding light on emerging opportunities and industry expectations. Engaging discussions and real-world insights shared by experienced professionals aim to equip attendees with the practical tools and knowledge needed to navigate the transition from academia to a successful career in language assessment.
Panel:
Ute Knoch, University of Melbourne
Antony Kunnan, Duolingo & Carnegie Mellon University
Barry O’Sullivan, British Council
Paula Winke, Michigan State University
Alistair Van Moere, Metametrics Inc.
SPECIAL SESSION 4:
Rainbow Connections
Convenor: Niles Zhao
Date: Wednesday, July 3, 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm
This special networking session is for conference attendees who self-identify as outside cis heteronormativity and/or LGBTQIA+ individuals. Here in Innsbruck, a city with its own unique cultural diversity, we aim to create a safe and welcoming environment inspired by the inclusive spirit of the LGBTQIA+ community. Our goal is to facilitate informal connections, offering a space where we can meet, connect, and support each other. Our only agenda is to foster engagement among our community members and provide a networking space.
Please note that this session is intended for those who self-identify as LGBTQIA+.