Dear all, 

I'd like to invite you to join us at the Annual Linguistics Lecture to be delivered by Prof. Vivian Cook at Northumbria University in a few weeks' time. Details are as follows:  

Speaker: Prof. Vivian Cook (Newcastle)

Title: The advantages of L2 users through the looking-glass

Time: 12-13:00, 14 May 2015

Venue: Lipman Building 031

Getting here: https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/study-at-northumbria/visit-northumbria/getting-here/getting-here/getting-here/

Abstract: 

This talk presents examples of recent experimental research from assorted areas that demonstrate difference in the thinking of L2 users from monolingual native speakers, including:

- L2 users categorise objects differently (Cook et al, 2006)

- People are more utilitarian in their L2 (Costa et al, 2014)

- L2 users are better at learning in noisy circumstances (Filippi et al, 2014)

- L2 users have better memories, age for age (Ljungberg et al, 2013)

- L2 users are more creative at solving maths problems (Leikin, 2012)

- L2 users have different brain structures (Kwok et al, 2011)

It is argued that through the looking-glass from a bilingual perspective these highlight the deficiencies and differences of the mind that knows only one language. However they also show that L2 research should not be based on comparisons.

Hope to see you all there. 

Best wishes,
Alex

_____________________________________

Alex Ho-Cheong Leung Ph.D.

Lecturer in Applied Linguistics and TESOL
Programme Leader, MA TESOL
Faculty of Arts, Design & Social Sciences
Northumbria University
Room 401A, Lipman Building
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8ST

Tel: 0191 243 7976
Email: alex.ho-cheong.leung@northumbria.ac.uk

Meetings Secretary of BAAL (British Association for Applied Linguistics)